] It's just dawned on me: Isabella and Henry are attracted to Catherine for the same reason, namely that she is naive but not stupid.

With this, I can agree...

] They can both show off their superior wisdom and knowledge to an admiring audience.

but with this, I cannot.

I didn't feel that Henry's enjoyment was in Catherine being inferior. I felt that he found her naivete endearing...not as a means by which he could manipulate her or elevate himself.

Even when there is no one around to witness his spectacular triumphs of wit and teasing...he continues to do it. I think he's just a guy who never stops joking and probing.

No...I don't feel that he likes Catherine because her relative inferiority in verbal warfare makes him look or feel good. I rather believe that he is attracted to her because her absolutely open and honest reactions to him are surprising and unique in his experience.

I'm not one to quote the text, but in their first conversation, I developed a full trust in his genuine surprise at Catherine...and felt immediately that his attraction to/interest in here was as unselfish as a new attraction can be expected to be.