... I chose one line per character.

] ...was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense."
...
] Narrator: "She never could learn or understand anything before she was taught; and sometimes not even then."

On these two we agree and, I would have you know,the first one is nearly as funny in Swedish! ;-9
Am I allowed another Henry, where he admits to finding the female style of letter-writing faultless except for three particulars..."A general deficiency of subject,a total inattention to stops and a frequent ignorance of grammar."

Can it be that Henry is testing new acquaintances by his "odd" behaviour? Unless a girl can tolerate them with good grace, he will not consider her for a partner- even dancewise? Catherine passes this test famously, doesn't she?.

Isabella: "I am determined, at all events, to be dressed exactly like you. The men take notice of that sometimes, you know."
"But it does not signify, if they do," said Catherine, very innocently.
"Signify! Oh heavens! I make it a rule never to mind what they say..."

John T on carriages:..." a thing of that sort in good hands will last above twenty years after it is fairly worn out..."

From Mrs Allen's little book of wisdome:"If it keeps raining the streets will be very wet."