She is able to balance her happiness and her father's, which pleases her; it is something she wants not something she is told she needs to do. Kate is not obeying him because if she were she would be dressed in plain modest clothes all day, every day. This shows Kate's desires to please the people around her but to also get what she wants, she just knows she cant have what she wants all the time so she has to compromise for half the time. To get what she wants Kate knows she must compromise, going along with what is thrown her way. When her father does a complete turn around deciding Marlow is not right for her, his views of Marlow change from generous and brave to saying his "impudence is infectious" (36). Kate has him compromise with her, giving Marlow another chance. Again it shows Kate's ability to compromise with those around her, allowing them to believe they have made a decision on their own when really Kate had control over the situation all along. Mr. Hardcastle knows what is best for his daughter and still she manages to change his mind and allow her to show him how wrong he is. Kate Hardcastle demonstrates great strength when handling comprisable tasks. .
Kate Hardcastle has the ability to turn a situation into something she wants; she's flexible. Kate now has her sights set on Marlow and is determined to make him hers. After Kate hears from the maid "the young gentleman as you passed by in your present dress, asked me if you were the barmaid, he mistook you for the barmaid, madam!" she decides to humor Marlow considering she is determined to make him love her, so she acts like the barmaid he mistakes her for (32). This could be argued she is abandoning what she wants for herself to give Marlow what he wants her to be. In fact Kate is doing the opposite, she has chosen to change herself to capture Marlow's attention because if she had Marlow she would be happy.
