So, what is going on between Isabella and Frederick Tilney, eh? After swearing she would not dance, James Morland being out of town, and Capt. Tilney being informed of such, they do indeed dance, much to Catherine’s surprise.

With several days going by without seeing much of her Dear Isabella (and isn’t that telling?) Catherine again finds herself a third wheel with Isabella and a man – but the man is not her brother this time. Isabella’s talk is full of “Tilney says” and when he appears, there is Major Flirting going on in half whispers. And what Catherine hears!

"What! Always to be watched, in person or by proxy!"

"Psha, nonsense!" was Isabella's answer in the same half whisper. "Why do you put such things into my head? If I could believe it--my spirit, you know, is pretty independent."

"I wish your heart were independent. That would be enough for me."

"My heart, indeed! What can you have to do with hearts? You men have none of you any hearts."

"If we have not hearts, we have eyes; and they give us torment enough."

"Do they? I am sorry for it; I am sorry they find anything so disagreeable in me. I will look another way. I hope this pleases you" (turning her back on him); "I hope your eyes are not tormented now."

"Never more so; for the edge of a blooming cheek is still in view--at once too much and too little."

My goodness, this all seems very intimate and full of innuendo. What has been going on in those several days Catherine hasn’t seen Isabella?

And, did you all catch Isabella’s comment about there being more than one way for she and Catherine to be sisters? Catherine has just disavowed any interest in John Thorpe (as any rational woman would) saying her interest has always been fixed in another direction (Henry, of course – good woman) and says “I cannot suppose your brother cares so very much about me. And, you know, we shall still be sisters." Isabella replies with "Yes, yes" (with a blush), "there are more ways than one of our being sisters. But where am I wandering to?”

What was that blush about? My Oxford Illustrated edition has a footnote on this:

"where am I wandering to" shows that Isabella’s fertile mind has conceived a third method of their becoming sisters.