] ] Do you really think so? I took it as more of a horrible realization that you don't want to admit is true. i.e. This cannot be happening to me; I don't believe it... though of course you really do.

] Yes, exactly. I believe we may be thinking alike here but expressing it in slightly different ways. :-)

Ah, I see. (and I do that often)

I thought you meant that Catherine was (being somewhat naive) giving John the benefit of the doubt--that she perhaps assumed he was teasing her.

Now, I understand. :)

] Tee hee. As Miss Morland cannot do without corpses in closets either, I think we shall have to have much of the horrid on Thorpefree Road...just nothing so horrid as John Thorpe. ;-)

I am glad to hear it!