Emma Chapter 21 - 30 Summary

Chapter 21

Mr. Knightley compliments Emma on her gracious treatment of Jane and her relatives the previous evening. The Bates women then drop by again to thank Emma for her gift of fresh pork. Miss Bates tells her that Mr. Elton is about to be married to Miss Hawkins, a woman he met in Bath. After they leave, Harriet stops by to tell Emma that she ran into the Martins at Ford's, the fabric store. Both brother and sister spoke to her briefly, and she is in a confused emotional state. Emma then uses the news of Mr. Elton's imminent marriage to get Harriet's mind off Mr. Martin.

Chapter 22

Highbury hears that Mr. Elton's future bride, Miss Augusta Hawkins, is attractive and rich. Emma is relieved that his change in status will make social relations easier between them. To her dismay, Mr. Elton's impending nuptials have done nothing to harden Harriet's heart. In the meantime, she learns that Elizabeth Martin (Robert Martin's sister) recently called on Harriet at Mrs. Goddard's when Harriet was not at home. Emma is now pondering "how the visit was to be acknowledged—what would be necessary—and what might be safest." Emma means to allow Harriet a short, formal visit to the Martins at Abbey Mill, and she plans to take her friend in her own carriage.

Chapter 23

Harriet is miserable after she snubs the Martin women, under Emma's direction, by paying them a 15-minute visit. Mrs. Martin (Robert Martin's mother) and her daughters had "received her doubtingly, if not coolly; and nothing beyond the merest common-place had been talked almost all the time," until Mrs. Martin remarked that Harriet had grown, which brought up the memory of their previous warm relations. Despite Harriet's anguish, Emma feels strongly that she must keep her friend from the Martins for her own good.

After the visit, Mr. and Mrs. Weston stop Emma and Harriet on their way home to announce that Frank is finally coming. The next morning, Mr. Weston wastes no time in bringing him around, and Emma finds him "a very good looking young man." Both Emma and Mr. Weston like that Frank refers to Randalls, Mr. Weston's estate, as "home." Emma is also satisfied that he speaks highly of his new stepmother. Frank leaves, preparing to pay a social call to Jane Fairfax, whom he mildly refers to as "a very elegant young woman."

Chapter 24

When Emma sees Frank and Mrs. Weston together the next day, she is happy to notice his friendliness and affection toward his new stepmother. This pleases Emma, and she thinks that Mr. Knightley "certainly had not done him justice." When the three of them go out walking, they stop at the Crown Inn, where Frank spies a ballroom. Seeing an opportunity for some fun, he asks, "Why had not Miss Woodhouse revived the former good old days of the room?" Emma thinks Frank has all of the spirit and sociability of his father with none of the "pride or reserve of Enscombe" (Enscombe is the home of the Churchills). As Emma grows comfortable with Frank, she asks him about Jane, and he remains evasive, although he volunteers that he doesn't approve of her complexion. He does admit they saw a lot of each other at Weymouth. Emma then shares with Frank her fantasy about Jane and Mr. Dixon, which Frank initially dismisses and then allows as a possibility.

Chapter 25

Emma's good opinion of Frank is shaken when he travels to London to get a haircut, which seems a vain extravagance. Emma also learns from the Westons, who are visiting at Hatfield, that Mr. and Mrs. Cole are hosting a large dinner to which all the gentry, except the Woodhouses, have been invited. The narrator says that the Coles are "of low origin, in trade, and only moderately genteel." Nonetheless, they have made a lot of money and are intent on joining high society. Emma initially thinks they should be kept in their place. She tells the Westons that she would turn down their invitation. Almost immediately following this conversation, her invitation arrives, and Emma decides to go.

Chapter 26

Emma arrives at the Coles' party at the same moment as Mr. Knightley, who is uncharacteristically in a carriage. Emma observes that Mr. Knightley usually travels on foot. At dinner, people are gossiping about a surprise gift of a pianoforte received by Jane Fairfax, an accomplished musician. Emma is sitting next to Frank and tells him the gift may be from Mr. Dixon. Mrs. Weston mentions that Mr. Knightley brought his carriage to escort Jane home and speculates that he might be the one who gifted Jane the piano, but Emma dismisses the idea of any attachment. When the rest of the guests arrive after dinner, she and Jane are asked to play, and Frank sings with both women. Emma notices Mr. Knightley paying a lot of attention to Jane. When the dancing starts and Mr. Knightley does not ask Jane to dance, Emma feels relieved.

Chapter 27

The next day, Emma basks in the afterglow of the party but feels uneasy about "betraying her suspicions of Jane Fairfax's feelings [for Mr. Dixon] to Frank Churchill." Harriet tells her that the Coles mentioned that the Cox daughters are interested in Mr. Martin. Emma dismisses them as "vulgar girls" and accompanies Harriet on a shopping trip in the village. They run into Mrs. Weston and Frank, who are on their way to visit the Bates women. Miss Bates then appears and asks Emma and Harriet to join them at her apartment when they finish shopping. Before they part ways, Miss Bates begins a long, disjointed monologue and happens to mention that Mr. Knightley has kindly sent the last of his apples for Jane.

Chapter 28

Emma and Harriet go to the Bates women's apartment, where guests have gathered to look at the new pianoforte. Frank flirts openly with Emma and surreptitiously with Jane, reminding her of music they heard together at Weymouth. When Jane blushes, Emma thinks it is because Frank has mentioned that Jane's benefactor sent Irish melodies (alluding to Mr. Dixon). Mr. Knightley happens to pass by, and Miss Bates invites him in. He declines when she mentions Frank is present. Miss Bates comically carries on a loud conversation with Mr. Knightley that all can hear.

Chapter 29

The Woodhouses visit the Westons, and the possibility of having more dancing is discussed at length. The space at Randalls is limited, however, and Mr. Woodhouse fears drafts from open windows. When he visits Emma at Hartfield the next day, Frank comes up with the idea of hosting a ball at the Crown Inn. Emma then walks over to the Inn with Frank, who suggests it will be a good idea to fetch Miss Bates and Jane for their opinion, and he leaves to get them. In the meantime, Mrs. Weston and Mrs. Stokes, the proprietor of the Inn, set a date.

Chapter 30

As the ball is being planned, Frank is called back home by his aunt, who is seriously ill. When Frank says good-bye to Emma, he seems anxious to discuss something. Emma discourages him, thinking he wants to make a declaration of love. Fortunately, Mr. Woodhouse enters and cuts the conversation short. Emma feels despondent when Frank leaves, concluding that "she must be a little in love with him, in spite of every previous determination against it."

Easyenglish