LOL MtheGM! Poor old Fotherington-Thomas! I do love Down With Skool! (Wasn't Nigel Molesworth's school called St Custard's?) As for Fanny Price, she seemed to me to be the only character in the book who had unshakeable moral principles and in spite of her timidity held her ground, as you say. Not a weak lady but a very strong one. I do find Mary Crawford witty and droll, but somehow despicable too.
Uncle DaveO, glad yet another contributor likes to read and re-read. I'm obviously not so eccentric as I thought!