During Joe Dagget's visit to Louisa we can infer that he cares and likes her.
Explanation:
Louisa and Joe Dagget made a promise that they would get married after Joe returned from his travels in Australia. Joe returns after 14, when he and Louisa have had new experiences and developed different goals for their life. Louisa no longer wants to marry Joe, but the promise must be kept and Joe visits her frequently. These visits make it seem that Joe likes and cares about Louisa, which is true, but as we read on, we learn that Joe is in love with another woman, but to keep the promise and not to sadden Louisa, he would marry her.
