Mr. Woodhouse is fond of society among his intimates who "visit him on his own terms," especially for evening parties: George Knightley, the Westons, Mr. Elton, Mrs. Goddard, and Mrs. and Miss Bates. A happy woman, Miss Bates is known for her "universal good-will and contented temper" and for being "a great talker upon little matters." Mrs. Goddard runs an honest, old-fashioned, and respectable boarding school; and she delights Emma when she asks to be allowed one evening to bring Harriet Smith, a pretty seventeen-year-old who is "the natural daughter of somebody." After Harriet proves to be engaging, proper, and deferential, Emma decides to "improve her" and spends a pleasant evening in forming schemes for doing so, at the same time seeing that the guests get generous portions of food, in spite of Mr. Woodhouse's concern that they partake of only a little because of health. The evening ends with Harriet in absolute happiness at the attention she has received from "so great a personage in Highbury" as Miss Woodhouse.
Harriet becomes such a good walking companion that Emma is confirmed in her kind designs, recognizing that, though Harriet is not clever, she is sweet and grateful and needs only guidance. Unable to learn from Harriet who her parents are, since she does not know, Emma encourages her to talk and learns that she is well acquainted with the Martins of Abbey-Mill Farm, where she had spent two months. From what Harriet says, Emma is sure that Mrs. Martin is successfully trying to interest Harriet in her son Robert. Emma's tactic is to say that she is sure that Harriet would not take notice of anyone Robert would marry, one reason being that there is "no doubt of your being a gentleman's daughter."
When they accidentally meet Robert the next day, Harriet steps over to talk with him and Emma observes him from a distance. He looks both neat and sensible, but shortly afterward Emma remarks that he is plain and entirely lacking in gentility and leads Harriet to compare him unfavorably with George Knightley, Mr. Weston, and Mr. Elton, particularly the latter. Whereas Robert reads little and lets business make him forget to procure a book that Harriet has recommended, Mr. Elton (according to Emma) is educated, has superior manners, and is in fine a model for any young man. After such an encomium Emma repeats some warm personal praise of Harriet which Emma herself has drawn from Mr. Elton. Emma has, of course, fixed upon Harriet as Mr. Elton's future mate, deluding herself that others must have already seen it as a perfect match but that only she could have planned it so precisely.
