Emma continues "to entertain no doubt of her being in love" with Frank, but "the conclusion of every imaginary declaration on his side was that she refused him." Though she is certain that he is in love, she begins to suspect that he is not really necessary to her happiness. When she reads a letter that Mrs. Weston receives from Frank, she still finds that she can "do without the writer"; but struck by a reference in the letter to her "beautiful little friend" Harriet, she begins to think of scheming.
Now that Frank is gone, the center of attention becomes the expected arrival of the Eltons. Harriet is in such a flutter about this that Emma, to divert her friend for her good, reproaches her for not thinking of Emma and the pain that the constant reference to the Eltons causes her. Harriet reacts with such concern that Emma later muses on her tenderness of heart and wifely possibilities, concluding thus: "I mention no names; but happy the man who changes Emma for Harriet!"
Mrs. Elton is first seen at church, but not long afterward Emma, taking Harriet to get the confrontation over with, pays the newlyweds a short visit. Emma feels that she sees in Augusta Elton not much elegance but too much ease for a young woman who is both a bride and a stranger. When the visit is returned, she becomes convinced that Augusta is "a vain woman," for she talks too much about her "brother Mr. Suckling's seat" of Maple Grove and about his barouche-landau, which they use for "exploring." She is overly familiar with her recommendation of the "advantages of Bath" for Mr. Woodhouse; then after denying any real ability with music, she insists that she and Emma, as town leaders, must form a musical society. Revealing that they have been calling at Randalls, she offers hasty, brief praise of the Westons and refers to another visitor there as Knightley, whom she has then met for the first time.
After the Eltons are gone, Emma inwardly expresses her outrage at this "insufferable woman" who, having never seen George before, glibly calls him Knightley. The woman is worse than she has imagined. When Mr. Woodhouse states that he should have paid his respects to Augusta because "Not to wait upon a bride is very remiss," Emma chides him as no friend to matrimony and states that what he says he should have done is "encouragement to marry." He wants to argue the point, but Emma drops it, her mind returning "to Mrs. Elton's offences, and long, very long, did they occupy her."
