] I've been thinking about this some more, and could it be that Catherine has indeed learned to love, and it is Henry she has learned to love. She's embarrassed because she's not thinking about Eleanor and hyacinths and her instruction now, but Henry and his.

I've been lurking here some time, working up the courage to introduce myself properly, but I finally have something to add to the conversation.

For the later Victorians anyway, there were entire books devoted to the "Language of Flowers" and among the many meanings of hyacinths were "constancy" and "unobtrusive loveliness". Both of which Eleanor's friendship, in contrast to IT's, have been teaching Catherine to value properly. I can certainly see Catherine taking the hint when Henry suggests he'd like to teach her more about the meaning of a rose...

Does anyone know if flowers were given meanings in JA's time, or is this a Victorian invention?

Off to the Newbie Board now.