The Mysterious Piano and Dancing Revelations — Emma

Frank Churchill comes back from London with his hair cut, laughing at himself and not at all ashamed. Mrs Weston is too anxious for Mr Woodhouse's favour to admit that Frank kept his father's dinner waiting. Emma decides that folly handled with confidence is not always folly. With Tuesday comes a longer look at him, at Mr Cole's, a house she once held against Mr Elton. She means to be happy there anyway. Her father's comfort is secured. She is received with cordial respect, pleased to see Knightley arrive in a carriage like a gentleman, and seated by Frank through what she believes is his planning.

Mrs Cole's news dominates the table. A pianoforte has arrived for Jane Fairfax, supposedly from Colonel Campbell. Emma and Frank trade smiles and Dixon theories. He admits he was at Weymouth when Dixon caught Jane at a water party. Emma spins motives for Jane's Highbury visit. The plea of native air, she says, might pass in summer, but not in January, February, and March, when good fires and carriages would do more. The Campbells' own grand piano sits shut up in London. Frank mirrors her until both treat the new gift as an offering of love. He also describes Enscombe: great families, none very near, and Mrs Churchill so often unfit for a visit that a young man might reasonably prefer Highbury. A week tomorrow is already half his time. The days have flown, and he will not regret the haircut, because he has no pleasure in seeing friends unless he can believe himself fit to be seen. Harriet arrives in the evening. Frank flatters her looks, notes her resemblance to Mr Elton, and Emma turns away in silence.

In the drawing room Jane receives congratulations with a blush Emma reads as guilt. Mrs Weston whispers that Knightley may love Jane, citing the carriage for the Bates women and his care for Jane's health. Emma erupts. Knightley must not marry. Henry must keep Donwell. Jane Fairfax is impossible. She even mimics Miss Bates thanking him for the Abbey and drifting off into an old petticoat. Mrs Weston is diverted against her conscience and tells her to stop. Emma plays, and Jane's superior performance humbles her. Frank stares at Jane's odd hairstyle, crosses to speak with her, then comes back. Mrs Weston goes on matchmaking Knightley to Jane and even wonders whether he sent the piano.

Frank pushes Jane to sing again though her voice thickens. Knightley tells her she has sung enough and sends Miss Bates to stop it. Miss Bates is soon anxious to get home for her mother. Emma watches whether Knightley will dance with Jane, feels relief when he does not, and leads a rare country dance with Frank. As he takes Emma to the carriage he says he would have had to ask Miss Fairfax, and that Jane's languid dancing would not have agreed with him after Emma's.