] I really don't think he's "beginning to get hooked." I think his interest in her at the beginning both conciously and subconciously totally platonic and friendly.

Not yet. Yeah, he's a nice guy. I don't think it dislikes that she seems to be bemused by him, he does like to exhibit his wit and he needs an audience for that. But it is too soon to be speaking of being "hooked" I think.

Though, is Catherine "hooked"? I think she is. For several days after they meet, she looks for him everywhere, expecting, hoping to run into him. He is temporarily surplanted in her thoughts by Udolpho, but when she sees him again, all her interest is renewed and all her joy in the evening evaporates because she didn't get to dance with him.