It is possible that the characters surrounding her know this as well. Mr. Tilney, for example, addresses her during their dance with an almost childish approach, explaining what is custom at that moment. However, the fact that she does not know what is custom during such a ball raises the concern that she is not familiar at all with social conventions. It happens again when Catherine gets acquainted with Isabella Thorpe, whom she admires like a younger sister admires the older one. This admiration, however, turns into naivety, as Catherine easily accepts everything Isabella states as the general truth. This naivety has an alienating effect on Catherine to the world of Bath, although she may not know it, as she is too naive to see this.
This naivety that coats Catherine's bubble surfaces again when Catherine is told by Isabella that her brother, John, thinks her to be the most charming girl in the world. "Had she been older or vainer, such attacks might have done little; but, where youth and difference are unites, it requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl in the world, and of being so very early engaged as a partner;"(Austen 49).
Not having dealt with such flattery and friendship before, and aware of the social pressure, Catherine answers that she finds him a 'very agreeable man' (Austen 49) as well, even if she does not find John very likable at all when she learned of his behaviour before. The discourse of her naivety and innocence displays again when Isabella tells Catherine of her and John's love. "Catherine's understanding began to awake: an idea of the truth suddenly darted into her mind; and, with the natural blush of someone of so new an emotion, she cried out, 'Good heaven! – can you really be in love with James?'"(Austen 131). Catherine's gullible and ignorant character comes to the conclusion of Isabella and James being in love, which had not occurred to her yet, despite the previous hints.
