Austen 250 Reader Series: Emma (Chapters 10-18)
- Maizie Ferguson
- Jul 18
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Welcome back, Janeites, to the Austen 250 Reader Series––our celebratory blog series for this 250th anniversary year––to the day in fact––and latest installment of our Emma content. Today, we shall cover the oh-so-dramatic chapters 10-18, which closes out the first volume. Now without further ado... let us begin!
Our story picks back up in the chill, English December, where readers find Emma and Harriet on their way to visit a family in need. As they walk, Harriet muses about her friend's singular, unique position in life. With all Miss Woodhouse has to recommend her, she wonders, why has Emma not made a perfect match for herself? Emma laughs these concerns away, as she loves her independence and freedom as "mistress" of Highbury much too well to relinquish it by marriage and could not leave her dear, persnickety father, who still mourns his eldest daughter's nuptials seven years prior.
The poor family's abode is not far from the Highbury vicarage and on the girls' return, who should they meet but Mr. Elton? Emma is sure the vicar must soon declare his love for Miss Smith and tries her hardest to give Mr. Elton and Harriet privacy by various means. (Here we see the kindhearted side of Emma, who exasperatingly goes to great pains to aid what she hopes will come to pass... but therein lies the rub... she, and Harriet, are already trapped in a web of seeing only what Miss Woodhouse wishes to see.) Mr. Elton does not propose, but Emma believes it mustn't be long now.
After a mutual silence of some minutes, Harriet thus began again—
“I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married, or going to be married! so charming as you are!”—
Emma laughed, and replied,
“My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to induce me to marry; I must find other people charming—one other person at least. And I am not only, not going to be married, at present, but have very little intention of ever marrying at all.”
“Ah!—so you say; but I cannot believe it.”
(Ch. 10)
Soon, Emma's older sister Isabella and her husband, Mr. John Knightley (who happens to be the younger brother of Highbury's own Mr. Knightley) visit from London with their five young children. The following chapter follows a discourse between the kind but nervous Isabella––whose behavior mirrors her father's in every respect––the pragmatic, reserved Mr. John Knightley, Mr. Woodhouse, and Emma, covering everything from Miss Taylor becoming Mrs. Weston to the mysterious Frank Churchill, who has sent a letter but is yet to show his face.
“That sweet, amiable Jane Fairfax! [...] She would be such a delightful companion for Emma.”
Mr. Woodhouse agreed to it all, but added,
“Our little friend Harriet Smith, however, is just such another pretty kind of young person. You will like Harriet. Emma could not have a better companion than Harriet.”
“I am most happy to hear it—but only Jane Fairfax one knows to be so very accomplished and superior!—and exactly Emma’s age.”
(Ch. 12)
Mr. Knightley and Emma, at this point, are still at odds after their disagreement regarding Emma's guidance of Harriet in refusing Robert Martin and expecting romantic action from Mr. Elton. The twelfth chapter begins with both parties seeking reconciliation, however, as illustrated by the quote below. Strong-willed and proud, to a degree, neither will admit they were wrong, but find the humility and grace to rise above the argument and make up.
Mr. Knightley has come to visit his brother while he and his family are staying at Hartfield and over the course of natural conversation, Isabella inquires about Jane Fairfax, the niece of Miss Bates. She is a very accomplished young lady and Emma's age, which gives Isabella cause to think they could become friends. Unbeknownst to all, Emma secretly dislikes any talk of Jane Fairfax, as she has tired of repeated mentions of her excellence and beauty, which rise out of a feeling of jealousy. (It is in moments like this that I must smile at Austen's genius. Instead of a heroine only she would care for, in Emma, she ended up creating a heroine who is perhaps more relatable to her readers...)
She hoped they might now become friends again. She thought it was time to make up. Making-up indeed would not do. She certainly had not been in the wrong, and he would never own that he had. Concession must be out of the question; but it was time to appear to forget that they had ever quarrelled; and she hoped it might rather assist the restoration of friendship, that when he came into the room she had one of the children with her—the youngest, a nice little girl about eight months old, who was now making her first visit to Hartfield, and very happy to be danced about in her aunt’s arms. (Ch. 12)
Many characters––from Mr. Woodhouse to Mr. Knightley, Mr. Elton to Harriet... and Emma, of course––are all invited to a Christmas hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Weston at Randalls. It is sure to be a pleasant evening, however unfortunately, Harriet becomes ill and is unable to attend. Emma, distraught at the prospect of Mr. Elton attending a party without Harriet, she tries to dissuade the vicar from coming. This amounts to nothing and his seeming disregard for Harriet's state and his excitement for the party are very worrisome to Miss Woodhouse.
Emma called on her the next day, and found her doom already signed with regard to Randalls. She was very feverish and had a bad sore throat [...] Harriet herself was too ill and low to resist the authority which excluded her from this delightful engagement, though she could not speak of her loss without many tears. Emma sat with her as long as she could, to [...] raise her spirits by representing how much Mr. Elton’s would be depressed when he knew her state; and left her at last tolerably comfortable, in the sweet dependence of his having a most comfortless visit, and of their all missing her very much. (Ch. 13)
At the party, Emma and Mr. Weston discuss Frank Churchill, the latter's son, who is soon to visit Highbury. Unlike with Jane Fairfax, Emma has always been intrigued by Mr. Churchill, with whom she believes to share a great deal in common. Mrs. Weston fears Frank will once again delay his visit due to the iron rule of his selfish, disagreeable aunt. Emma is reminded by the Westons that Mrs. Churchill is very unreasonable, so she will not judge Frank harshly.
Mr. Weston, at dinner, he made use of the very first interval in the cares of hospitality, the very first leisure from the saddle of mutton, to say to her,
“We want only two more to be just the right number. I should like to see two more here,—your pretty little friend, Miss Smith, and my son—and then I should say we were quite complete. I believe you did not hear me telling the others in the drawing-room that we are expecting Frank. I had a letter from him this morning, and he will be with us within a fortnight.”
Emma spoke with a very proper degree of pleasure; and fully assented to his proposition of Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Smith making their party quite complete. (Ch. 14)
It is soon observed that the increasingly-heavy snowfall would likely, in due time, cause an inability for the guests to travel home on the roads. Panic ensues, with Mr. Woodhouse and Isabella both quickly deciding they must return to Hartfield at once. The carriages are filled without delay, unfortunately leaving Emma and Mr. Elton to share.
Emma prepares herself for a long ride in silence, however Mr. Elton soon behaves most indecorously, professing his love for her and asking her to marry him. Emma is shocked and at first writes the vicar's behavior up to his many glasses of wine that evening... she gently but firmly reminds him that his heart is attached to Harriet. This Mr. Elton staunchly refuses, claiming that any actions in recent weeks had been with only Emma's interest in mind. It appears a grave misunderstanding has taken place; both parties are offended and Mr. Elton is personally affronted by Emma's thoughts that he would ever be interested in someone of a lower social class, like Harriet. Emma makes sure her refusal is clear and the rest of the drive is completed in intolerable silence.
“I am very much astonished, Mr. Elton. This to me! you forget yourself—you take me for my friend—any message to Miss Smith I shall be happy to deliver; but no more of this to me, if you please.”
“Miss Smith!—message to Miss Smith!—What could she possibly mean!”— [...]
“Mr. Elton, this is the most extraordinary conduct! and I can account for it only in one way; you are not yourself, or you could not speak either to me, or of Harriet, in such a manner. Command yourself enough to say no more, and I will endeavour to forget it.” (Ch. 15)
Emma––whose inner monologue is embarrassed and remorseful to the highest degree––reflects on her initial wishes and actions towards Mr. Elton in the past few weeks, as well as the encouragement she gave to poor Harriet regarding the vicar's intentions and attentions. Much of this chapter shows Emma's thought process and the natural realization of wrong behavior and true motives. She is sympathetic for her dear friend, who will of course take the news very hard, but can only feel disdain for the conceit and audacity of Mr. Elton, who has revealed himself to be a social-climber and selfish, inconsiderate man. The blame does not fall entirely on the horrid Mr. Elton, though; with humility, Emma acknowledges her part in the proceedings and understands how her eagerness to procure a match for Harriet could have been mistaken as encouragement on the vicar's part.
“Here have I,” said she, “actually talked poor Harriet into being very much attached to this man. She might never have thought of him but for me; and certainly never would have thought of him with hope, if I had not assured her of his attachment, for she is as modest and humble as I used to think him. [...] I was introducing her into good company, and giving her the opportunity of pleasing some one worth having; I ought not to have attempted more. But now, poor girl, her peace is cut up for some time [...]" (Ch. 16)
A few days later, Mr. John Knightley and Isabella return home to London with their family and soon Mr. Elton leaves for an extended stay in Bath. This, Emma believes, is the perfect opportunity to tell Harriet what has happened. Harriet is all grace and humility. She criticizes neither Mr. Elton nor her friend, and does not wonder at Mr. Elton's preference of Emma over herself. From this point on, Emma vows to support her friend in other ways and does her best to distract Harriet from any thoughts of Mr. Elton, inviting her to stay at Hartfield.
Her tears fell abundantly—but her grief was so truly artless, that no dignity could have made it more respectable in Emma’s eyes—and she listened to her and tried to console her with all her heart and understanding—really for the time convinced that Harriet was the superior creature of the two—and that to resemble her would be more for her own welfare and happiness than all that genius or intelligence could do. (Ch. 17)
Another letter arrives at Randalls from Frank Churchill, yet again postponing his visit with a myriad of excuses. While it does not surprise Mrs. Weston, it comes as a disappointment nevertheless. Later, Mr. Knightley and Emma converse on the subject of Mr. Churchill. As with the Robert Martin-Harriet Smith situation, the two old friends have very differing views of the matter. It is the opinion of Mr. Knightley that it is Frank Churchill's duty to see his father and his step-mother, even if his aunt is cantankerous and ill-tempered. Emma, on the other hand, says Mr. Knightley cannot truly understand as he has always been his own master and has never had someone who was dependent upon him... she compares her own situation with her father to that of Frank Churchill and his aunt. This does not convince Mr. Knightley, so Emma counters that they simply have two very strong opinions, as quoted below, that simply cannot be further pursued until the elusive Frank Churchill visits at last.
“I will say no more about him,” cried Emma, “you turn every thing to evil. We are both prejudiced; you against, I for him; and we have no chance of agreeing till he is really here.”
“Prejudiced! I am not prejudiced.”
“But I am very much, and without being at all ashamed of it. My love for Mr. and Mrs. Weston gives me a decided prejudice in his favour.”
(Ch. 18)
And at that, dear readers, we conclude Volume I and must here end week two of Emma. Stay tuned for the next segment of Chapters 19-26, released in two weeks, on Friday, August 1. A reading guide can be found here. Now, I beseech you, please share your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear anything and everything, dear readers!
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