II.—­Emma as a Matchmaker

Emma lost no time in developing her schemes for the happiness of Mr. Elton.  Through Mrs. Goddard, the mistress of the local boarding-school for girls, she struck up an acquaintance, which she contrived rapidly to develop into intimacy, with a Miss Harriet Smith—­a plump, fair-haired, blue-eyed little beauty of seventeen, whose prettiness, docility, good-temper and simplicity might be allowed to balance her lack of intelligence and information.

Harriet was the natural daughter of somebody.  Somebody had placed her several years back at Mrs. Goddard’s school, and somebody had lately raised her from the condition of scholar to that of parlour-boarder.  This was all that was generally known of her history.  She had no visible friends but what had been acquired at Highbury, and was now just returned from a long visit in the country to some young ladies—­the Misses Martin—­who had been at school there with her.

The first step which Emma took in the education of Harriet was to cool her interest in the Martins.  She pointed out that Mr. Robert Martin, who held a large farm from Mr. Knightley in Donwell parish, was too young to marry at twenty-four, that he had, besides, an awkward look, an abrupt manner, and an uncouth voice; and that, moreover, he was quite plain-looking and wholly ungenteel; whereas Mr. Elton, who was good-humoured, cheerful, obliging and gentle, was a pattern of good manners and good looks, and seemed to be taking quite an interest in Harriet.  So indeed it appeared.  Mr. Elton seemed delighted with being in the society of Emma and Harriet.  He praised Harriet as a beautiful girl, congratulated Emma on the improvement she had wrought in her, contributed a charade to Harriet’s riddle-book, and took a most animated interest in a portrait which Emma began to paint of her.

But Mr. Knightley was not so complacent.  “I think Harriet,” he said to Mrs. Weston, “the very worst sort of a companion that Emma could possibly have.  She knows nothing herself, and looks upon Emma as knowing everything.  Her ignorance is hourly flattery.  How can Emma imagine she has anything to learn herself while Harriet is presenting such a delightful inferiority?  And as for Harriet, Hartfield will only put her out of conceit with all the other places she belongs to.  She will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances have placed her.”

This was in the early stages of the intimacy.  Later in the day, when he learned that Emma had taken so decided a hand in the affairs of Harriet as to persuade her to decline a formal offer of marriage from Mr. Martin, he told her plainly: 

“I have always thought it a very foolish intimacy, though I have kept my thoughts to myself; but now I perceive that it will be a very unfortunate one for Harriet.  You will puff her up with such ideas of her own beauty, and what she has claim to, that, in a little while, nobody within her reach will be good enough for her.  Robert Martin has no great loss if he can but think so; and I hope it will not be long before he does.  Your views for Harriet are best known to yourself; but, as you make no secret of your love of match-making, I shall just hint to you as a friend that, if Elton is the man, I think it will be all labour in vain.”