Jane — arrive for the remainder of the party. As soon as the men join them, Frank makes his way directly to Emma. After an interruption by Mr. Cole, Emma sees Frank looking intently across the room at Jane, but he says that it is only on account of the way her hair is done and goes over purportedly to ask her about it. Mrs. Weston joins Emma to say that George's carriage has brought Jane and Miss Bates and that she thinks a match is making "between Mr. Knightley and Jane Fairfax." Emma will not believe this, declaring that "Mr. Knightley must not marry!" and thereby cut little Henry off from inheriting the Donwell Abbey estates. She even mimics Miss Bates to indicate the absurdity of George's ever marrying Jane, but Mrs. Weston hints that the pianoforte may have come from George.
Emma is asked to play and is joined in singing by Frank. Then while Jane plays and Frank joins her also in singing, George talks with Emma in such a way that she is convinced that he would never send a gift secretly to anybody. When the first of two dances is proposed, Frank secures Emma's hand for it and George, instead of asking Jane or anybody else to dance, goes and talks with Mr. Cole. Emma feels "no longer an alarm for Henry" and lets herself enjoy the dancing.
