(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

S: I laughed to myself when Mrs. Elton announced her disgust of ‘upstarts’, for Emma feels just that way about her! I think it’s charming that Emma doesn’t realise she’s endearing herself to Mr. Knightley. 

R: Mrs. Elton…I’m not even sure what to say about her. She is almost certainly clueless, both about her own position and Emma’s feelings about her. I do wonder if she’s being deliberately irritating, though.

S: I hadn’t thought about that. I assumed she really does hold herself in too high of an opinion so she thinks she can say whatever she wants, regardless of whom she’s talking with. Maybe she is trying to push Emma’s buttons.

Chapter 37 also made me laugh, for yet again Emma is assuming so much about Frank Churchill’s attachment! Similar to the first time they tried to have a ball, it still seems like a bad idea.

R: This was a surprisingly short chapter! I feel like Frank really was going to declare himself to Emma before he left the first time. I’m glad Emma’s keeping her thoughts to herself, though. I was surprised by how short his first visit is; his excuses seem weak.

S: I agree. There is definitely something else going on with him. He doesn’t seem to be the type of person who should be so fickle. 

R: The long-awaited ball finally happens in Chapter 38! I thought it was very interesting that the Eltons were meant to have brought Jane Fairfax and Miss Bates, but they forgot them, or decided not to pick them up on their way. Not sure what’s going on there. 

S: My bet is that they chose not to pick them up and rationalised it to themselves. 

This chapter holds one of my favourite quotes in this book so far:

‘General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be. She could fancy such a man.’

I laughed aloud when I read this, because this sounds just like Mr. Knightley! 

The Eltons’ slight against Harriet made my blood boil. It was just so…mean! I’m so glad that Mr. Knightley came to the rescue. It’s also interesting to me that Emma, while dancing with Mr. Churchill, is not thinking about her dance partner, but rather looking for Mr. Knightley. My heart was very happy once Emma and Mr. Knightley decided to dance; it feels like romance may be coming soon! The fact that Mr. Knightley is as angry at the Eltons’ slight toward Harriet as Emma is also made me happy. It really does seem as though Emma is growing in character.

R: I was pleased that Mr. Knightley danced with Harriet after Mr. Elton’s slight. I also appreciate that he acknowledged that Harriet would have been better for Mr. Elton in some ways than the woman he chose instead. I loved the little exchange between Emma and Mr. Knightley at the end of the chapter. His declaration seems a strong indication that Mr. Knightley might be seeing Emma in a new light.

S: Chapter 39 is an interesting interlude, entirely unexpected, for here is Emma’s imagination working overtime again. Still, at least she chooses to not attempt to matchmake!

R: Another short chapter! It seems that Emma is learning her lesson. Though her imagination runs a bit wild (who doesn’t do that occasionally?), she keeps those thoughts to herself.

S: I’m glad that in Chapter 40 we see Harriet has chosen to release the hold her heart has on Mr. Elton, but I do wonder: does she mean she has her heart set on Mr. Churchill as Emma suspects, or does she now hope for Mr. Knightley? They have both done her a great service recently.

R: Oh, poor Harriet! But it’s good that she’s stopped thinking about Mr. Elton. I strongly suspect that she’s now set her heart on Mr. Knightley and not Frank Churchill as Emma believes!