- Immediately concerned about Harriet – who’s about to be snubbed for the second time – Emma hurries home.
- As she walks, she thinks about all the things that she could have done differently had she known about the engagement.
- For one thing, she might have liked Jane much more.
- And she wouldn’t have made fun of her with Frank.
- It now occurs to her that all of her attempts to befriend Jane when she was ill were probably arrows into Jane’s heart.
- Just think about how badly Frank ignored her at Box Hill – and how much he flirted with Emma!
- Emma regrets that Mr. Weston swore her to secrecy about the engagement.
- Surprisingly, Emma meets Harriet at the gate of Hartfield – and Harriet has already heard all about the engagement.
- She met Mr. Weston on the road.
- Apparently Mr. Weston has a pretty broad definition of the word "secret."
- Harriet relates the news to Emma with apparent joy. She’s not even a little bit upset.
- Emma’s totally confused.
- Wasn’t Harriet madly in love with Frank? How can she be so calm about the utter failure of her plans – again?
- Emma asks Harriet why she’s not upset.
- Harriet is confused (big surprise).
- She explains to Emma that the man she loves – the man she agreed never to name – is so totally completely better than Frank that she never even thought about Frank.
- Not for a second.
- Emma feels the ground drop from under her.
- Could Harriet mean Mr. Knightley?
- Yup. As it turns out, Harriet loves Mr. Knightley.
- And, to make matters worse, she thinks that Emma supports her love.
- What about the fact that Frank rescued Harriet from the gypsies?
- We’re so glad you asked. In fact, Emma asks the same question.
- As it turns out, the "rescue" Harriet was thinking about was when Mr. Knightley asked her to dance.
- Mortal terror versus social awkwardness?
- It’s an easy call. It’s ALWAYS worse to be left alone at a dance!
- Emma suddenly can’t hear Harriet talking – her mind is moving too fast.
- In a flash, Emma realizes that Harriet can’t love Mr. Knightley.
- SHE loves him!
- There are a few moments of dramatic self-revelation. It’s pretty amazing, actually.
- Emma slowly realizes that there’s another problem: what if Mr. Knightley loves Harriet?
- Harriet explains why she thinks Mr. Knightley might like her.
- As Emma listens, her heart sinks.
- Maybe Mr. Knightley does like Harriet.
- Emma shudders at the thought. Harriet totally doesn’t deserve him.
- Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time that an amazing man married a stupid woman.
- Confused, Emma tells Harriet to leave.
- Left alone with her thoughts, Emma realizes that she’s always loved Mr. Knightley.
- She finally recognizes that it was pretty vain to assume that she could understand everyone else’s loves – when, really, she had no idea what her own feelings were!