] ] I feel sorry for all the Tilney children. I think they all suffer under their father's roof. Even the eldest found a profession to get away from it. I see no evidence that the three siblings do not get along. Quite the opposite. From Chapter 7, we hear from Eleanor that "both my brothers are very affectionate"

] I read this differently than you did. There is a bit before that that you left out:

] "I have no sister, you know--and though Henry--though my brothers are very affectionate..."

] I thought it telling that Eleanor started to say "and though Henry is very affectionate" but changed it to "my brothers" as if she recollected to herself that she has two brothers and ought to include Frederick.

What she actually says (all of it) is:

I have no sister, you know - and though Henry - though my brothers are very affectionate, and Henry is a great deal here, which I am most thankful for, it is impossible for me not to be often solitary.

I have always read this to mean that Eleanor was going to say "though Henry is affectionate and a great deal here..." only a portion of the sentiment applies to Frederick - I see the change in her speech as an indication that she specifically wanted to include Frederick as being affectionate. She needn't have mentioned him at all as Catherine certainly wasn't thinking of him! ;-)

I see it as another sign that Captain Frederick is on good terms with his siblings, but stays away from his father as much as he is able. Of course, his career must keep him more often away than Henry's.

] I shall look for more evidence in this next week's chapters to bolster this feeling I have. It may not be there, and I may be blindly prejudiced and you may convince me otherwise, but we shall see. ;-)