Bit of a joke. Ever since I wrote about a General Tilney not quite remembering John Thorpe's name, I've been playing with it. A friend of mine once said: "It's disrespectful to forget a person's name." This should give you some idea what I really think of the Thorpes.
Miss IsabellaThornton was a pretty enough young lady, of no distinguished heritage, without stellar connexions or fortune. She was a good-natured young lady, eager to make the best of her circumstances. Her brother John was a helpful, generous soul and could be counted on to guide her towards worthy man.
While the Thornton's background precluded their ever rubbing elbows with men of great consequence, John Thornton was nonetheless able to move in circles somewhat above his station. He appeared to be able to easily find the men of somewhat greater affluence or prospects, and eagerly set out to make friends of them.
It must be said, that having friends more powerful, but especially more wealthy than himself, stroked youngThornton's vanity. It pleased him to think of himself as better, stronger, more virile than the men he sought out as friends. Their easy acquiescence to his leadership, boosted his confidence even more.
In such a state of self-satisfaction, John Thornton felt that the next logical step was to secure his sisters' futures. Isabella, as the eldest, must come first. She was a strongheaded, somewhat mean individual, but, John assured himself, she had charms no man would spurn. She would do best with a calm, malleable husband, John thought. He needed to have a fortune, or at least the expectation of one, if he were to keep Isabella in the style she deserved.
Considering his friends and acquaintances, John Thorntonfinally settled on Mr. James Morland as the perfect suitor for his sister, and duly invited the man to spend time with the Thornton family.
Isabella was pleased, so it appeared. Mr. Morland was handsome enough, had fair enough expectations, so John Thornton had convinced himself, Mr. Morland was intelligent and kind. He would be good to Isabella.
Miss Isabella Thornton set out to do her duty to her brother. He had brought a suitable man, she would need to turn his head. He may not be the most dashing gentleman she ever met, nor the most outgoing, but he would be settled comfortably enough, so her brother had assured her, and she could always search out these other men after she had secured her own future.
Miss Isabella Thornton easily charmed Mr. James Morland. Shebeguiled him with her smiles, and her pretty little lies.
At the end of Mr. Morland's stay, an understanding was reached.