Emma Part VII

When Mr Knightley hears of Franks engagement to Jane he is angry and upset, and rushes to see Emma. He fears that she had feelings for Frank and this will hurt her, but she tells him that she never cared for him and Knightley proposes to h er. He tells her that although he is many years her senior and saw himself as much older and wiser, he has always loved her and is sorry now for lecturing her as he often did. Emma has realised that she loves Knightley for some time and is happy at his proposal but she feels conflicted as she cannot leave her beloved father who is old and always afraid of change in his life. She feels they must wait a little while to tell the old man and that perhaps she will have to wait till he is gone to marry. Then, Mr Knightley tells her that he has some news about Harriet. He had been friendly with Harriet of late and he was doing it to see if she might re consider her feelings for Robert Martin. He tells her that he encouraged Robert to propose again and this time, Harrriet accepted him, after all her various romances of the previous year. Emma is amused by Harriet's being so persuadable, and realises that she probalby should have married Robert when he first asked, as she was in love with him, in her soft easily led way. SHe tells Knightley that she is glad that her protegee has now found a man who is decent, respectable and in love with her, and she will be safe and happy, rather than falling in love with men of higher social class who will not see her as a prospective wife. Mrs Weston has her baby, a daughter and then Mr Knightley tells Emma he would be willing to live at Hartfield with her, as long as she is needed to care for her father. Mr Woodhouse is not entirely happy but he worries about being alone and is fond of Mr Knightley, and there has been a rash of chicken stealing which alarms him so he is willing to consent to the marriage. Frank takes Jane to Yorkshire, to his home and Harriet marries Mr Martin. Emma then marries Knightley and he moves from his home to Hartfield. Jane Austen later told her family that Mr Woodhouse lived for 2 years after Emma's marriage. Emma is one of the sunniest of Austen's books. The 3 couples seem genuinely happy at the end, and the Westons have their little girl.