] ] ]She was pleased with Catherine because Catherine served her purposes.

]I can imagine Isabella's eyes searching the room for any impertinent young men towards whom she can direct her artful performance. Now and then she encourages Catherine since she makes for a nice darkhaired , less sophisticated counterpart to Miss Thorpe's more mature, blond feminine charms .

Isabella's uses for Catherine knew no bounds. By becoming friends with Catherine, IT would be on surer footing with James, and could encourage a relationship between Catherine and her brother (*shudder*). And being the peacock that she is, I agree that she felt the atvatage of having a plain fried, her (IT's) beauty would shine even more, and she would not have to compete with a more beautiful sister-in-law (just a better, sweeter, more honorable one).