Original Text(~250 words)
CHAPTER III Emma could not forgive her;—but as neither provocation nor resentment were discerned by Mr. Knightley, who had been of the party, and had seen only proper attention and pleasing behaviour on each side, he was expressing the next morning, being at Hartfield again on business with Mr. Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole; not so openly as he might have done had her father been out of the room, but speaking plain enough to be very intelligible to Emma. He had been used to think her unjust to Jane, and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement. “A very pleasant evening,” he began, as soon as Mr. Woodhouse had been talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers swept away;—“particularly pleasant. You and Miss Fairfax gave us some very good music. I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting at one’s ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women; sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation. I am sure Miss Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant, Emma. You left nothing undone. I was glad you made her play so much, for having no instrument at her grandmother’s, it must have been a real indulgence.” “I am happy you approved,” said Emma, smiling; “but I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield.” “No, my dear,” said her father instantly; “_that_ I am sure you are not. There is nobody...
Continue reading the full chapter
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Summary
Emma faces two pieces of news that shake her carefully ordered world. First, Mr. Knightley announces that Mr. Elton is engaged to a Miss Hawkins from Bath—news that surprises Emma more than she expected, revealing lingering feelings about her failed matchmaking attempt. The announcement comes just as Emma is trying to prove to Mr. Knightley that she's making an effort with Jane Fairfax, though her motives remain mixed. Meanwhile, Harriet arrives in distress after an unexpected encounter with Robert Martin and his sister Elizabeth at Ford's shop during a rainstorm. The meeting forces Harriet to face the consequences of rejecting Robert's proposal—seeing his genuine kindness and his sister's attempts at reconciliation despite the hurt Emma's influence caused. Harriet's emotional turmoil over this chance meeting initially overshadows the Elton news entirely, showing where her heart truly lies. Emma realizes she must help Harriet process both situations: the awkward encounter that reminds them both of roads not taken, and the Elton engagement that closes another chapter. The chapter reveals how our reactions to unexpected news and encounters expose our deepest feelings, even when we think we've moved on. Emma begins to see the real human cost of her manipulations—not just in grand gestures, but in the everyday awkwardness and pain that lingers long after her schemes have supposedly ended.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Accomplishments
Skills like piano playing, singing, drawing, and speaking French that upper-class women were expected to master. These weren't hobbies but social requirements that showed a family's status and a woman's marriageability.
Modern Usage:
We still judge people by their 'soft skills' and cultural knowledge in job interviews and social situations.
Visiting cards
Small cards left when making social calls, following strict rules about when and how to use them. They were essential for maintaining social connections and showing respect in polite society.
Modern Usage:
Like our LinkedIn connections or social media follows - formal ways to maintain professional and social networks.
Morning calls
Formal social visits made in the afternoon (confusingly called 'morning' calls) where people maintained relationships, shared news, and conducted social business. These weren't casual drop-ins but planned social obligations.
Modern Usage:
Similar to scheduled coffee dates or networking events where we maintain professional and social relationships.
Propriety
The unwritten rules of what's socially acceptable behavior. Breaking these rules could damage your reputation permanently, especially for women who had fewer ways to recover from social mistakes.
Modern Usage:
We still have social codes about what's appropriate behavior, though the consequences are usually less severe.
Situation
A paid position, usually as a governess or companion, that educated but poor women took to survive. It meant losing social status and independence while being neither servant nor family member.
Modern Usage:
Like being stuck in a job that's beneath your education level because you need the income.
Engagement announcement
A formal declaration of intent to marry that was as binding as marriage itself. Breaking an engagement was a serious scandal that could ruin reputations and had legal consequences.
Modern Usage:
While we're more casual about engagements today, surprise announcements still shock people and force them to confront their own feelings.
Characters in This Chapter
Emma Woodhouse
Protagonist
Emma struggles to hide her shock at Mr. Elton's engagement while trying to appear indifferent. She's also dealing with Harriet's distress over the awkward encounter with Robert Martin, realizing the lasting consequences of her interference.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who gives unsolicited advice then has to deal with the fallout
Mr. Knightley
Voice of reason
He delivers the news of Mr. Elton's engagement matter-of-factly, observing Emma's reaction carefully. He represents the outside perspective that sees through Emma's attempts to appear unaffected.
Modern Equivalent:
The brutally honest friend who tells you what you need to hear
Harriet Smith
Emotional catalyst
Harriet arrives upset after unexpectedly encountering Robert Martin and his sister at Ford's shop. Her distress reveals that she still has feelings for Robert and regrets rejecting him on Emma's advice.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who runs into their ex and realizes they made a mistake
Mr. Elton
Absent but significant
Though not present, his engagement announcement forces Emma to confront her lingering feelings about their failed interaction and her misjudgment of his character.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who moves on quickly after rejection and makes you question your own feelings
Robert Martin
The road not taken
His chance encounter with Harriet at Ford's shop shows his continued kindness despite being rejected. His behavior highlights what Harriet gave up when she followed Emma's advice.
Modern Equivalent:
The genuinely good person someone rejected for superficial reasons
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to interpret the feelings that surface when we're caught off guard, recognizing them as valuable information about our true emotional state.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you have a stronger reaction than expected to news or encounters, and ask yourself what that reaction might be revealing about feelings you thought you'd resolved.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I never can be thankful, Mr. Knightley, for any thing you do for me. I know that such a compliment ought to be followed by some expression of gratitude, but I cannot feel it."
Context: Emma responds to Mr. Knightley's compliments about her behavior toward Jane Fairfax
Emma's honesty reveals her discomfort with praise when she knows her motives aren't pure. She's trying to improve her behavior toward Jane but struggles with genuine feeling versus social performance.
In Today's Words:
I can't pretend to be grateful when we both know I'm just going through the motions.
"Mr. Elton is going to be married."
Context: He announces the engagement news to Emma
The simple, direct delivery of shocking news. Mr. Knightley watches Emma's reaction to see how she truly feels about Mr. Elton, testing whether she's as indifferent as she claims.
In Today's Words:
Your ex is engaged.
"They met by accident. She had left her umbrella there, I suppose, and had come back for it."
Context: Harriet explains how she encountered Robert Martin at Ford's shop
The mundane details of an awkward encounter that carries huge emotional weight. Sometimes the most ordinary moments force us to face the consequences of our choices.
In Today's Words:
I ran into him at the store and it was so awkward I wanted to disappear.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Unexpected Reactions - When Our True Feelings Ambush Us
Our spontaneous emotional responses to unexpected news expose feelings we thought we had resolved or moved past.
Thematic Threads
Self-Deception
In This Chapter
Emma believes she's over the Elton situation until his engagement news unsettles her more than expected
Development
Evolved from Emma's earlier denial about her matchmaking motives to now confronting buried feelings
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself having strong reactions to news you thought wouldn't bother you, revealing unfinished emotional business.
Class Consequences
In This Chapter
Harriet faces the awkward aftermath of rejecting Robert Martin due to Emma's class-based advice
Development
Developed from earlier class manipulation to showing the lasting human cost of those decisions
In Your Life:
You might see how decisions based on status or others' expectations create ongoing awkwardness with good people you've dismissed.
Emotional Honesty
In This Chapter
Both Emma and Harriet discover their true feelings through unexpected encounters and news
Development
Building from Emma's growing self-awareness to moments of involuntary emotional truth
In Your Life:
You might find that your immediate reactions to surprising news reveal feelings you've been hiding from yourself.
Manipulation Aftermath
In This Chapter
Emma must help Harriet process the emotional fallout from advice that seemed harmless at the time
Development
Evolved from active manipulation to dealing with the ongoing human consequences
In Your Life:
You might realize that your well-meaning advice to others has created complications you now need to help them navigate.
Recognition and Regret
In This Chapter
Harriet sees Robert Martin's genuine kindness and his sister's hurt, understanding what she gave up
Development
Developed from blind following of Emma's advice to painful clarity about missed opportunities
In Your Life:
You might have moments where you clearly see the good things you walked away from based on someone else's judgment.
Modern Adaptation
When the Promotion Goes Sideways
Following Emma's story...
Emma gets two pieces of news that shake her world. First, her manager announces that Derek from accounting—the guy she tried to set up with her friend Harriet—just got engaged to someone from the corporate office. Emma feels unexpectedly bothered, even though she knows Derek was wrong for Harriet. Then Harriet shows up in tears after running into Robert, the warehouse supervisor she rejected on Emma's advice, at the grocery store. Robert was with his sister, and seeing how kind he still was—helping an elderly customer, his sister trying to be friendly despite the awkwardness—makes Harriet realize what she gave up. Emma watches her friend fall apart and realizes her matchmaking didn't just fail in the moment—it's still causing pain months later. The chance encounter forces both women to face feelings they thought they'd moved past, and Emma begins to see that her well-meaning interference has lasting consequences she never considered.
The Road
The road Emma Woodhouse walked in 1815, Emma walks today. The pattern is identical: unexpected news and chance encounters expose feelings we thought we'd resolved, revealing the ongoing cost of our choices.
The Map
This chapter provides a reality-check tool: your immediate reactions to unexpected news reveal your true feelings. When you're caught off guard, your gut response bypasses your rational explanations and shows you what's really going on inside.
Amplification
Before reading this, Emma might have dismissed her unsettled feelings or rushed to fix Harriet's distress. Now she can NAME the pattern (unexpected reactions reveal buried feelings), PREDICT it (chance encounters will trigger unresolved emotions), and NAVIGATE it (pause to listen to what the reaction is telling you before explaining it away).
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Emma feel more unsettled by Mr. Elton's engagement news than she expected to be?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Harriet's strong reaction to seeing Robert Martin reveal about her true feelings, despite having rejected his proposal?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of a time when unexpected news triggered a stronger reaction in you than you anticipated. What did that reaction tell you about your real feelings?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between thinking you're over something and actually being at peace with it?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about how our immediate, unguarded reactions reveal truths we might be hiding from ourselves?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Unexpected Reactions
For the next week, notice moments when you have a stronger reaction to news or encounters than you expected. Write down what happened and what your immediate feeling was, before you explained it away or rationalized it. Look for patterns in what triggers these unexpected responses.
Consider:
- •Don't judge the reaction as good or bad - just observe it as information
- •Pay attention to the gap between what you think you should feel and what you actually feel
- •Notice if certain types of situations consistently catch you off guard emotionally
Journaling Prompt
Write about a situation where you thought you had moved on from something, but an unexpected encounter or piece of news revealed you still had unresolved feelings. What did you learn about yourself from that reaction?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 22: The Rebound Romance
The coming pages reveal people rewrite their own stories to protect their ego after rejection, and teach us rebounds often happen so quickly after disappointment. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.