] (snip) I can picture Sir John roaming the land during the off-season "hunting" for social activities! I wonder how he handled any lengthy stretches of inactivity. By the number of apologies and excuses he gives to the Dashwoods for failing to assemble a large party to greet them, I wonder if he enjoys fussing over such things?

Could be; if he's an absolutely restless fidget, he might pounce at a chance to arrange social events in the off-season. OTOH, I can imagine him really not interested in making such arrangements - being interested only in hunting - and that this profusion of apologies is a cover for the fact that he didn't bother to try arranging anything?

] (snip) Does this mean he likes being the alpha-sportsman (for lack of better term) in the neighborhood and so avoids having another sportsman in close competition?