No second mishap prevents the Crown ball. After a morning of anxious watching, Frank Churchill reaches Randalls before dinner, and everything is safe. He and Emma have not met again. Mr Weston begs her to come early so the room at the Crown can witness that meeting, and so she can judge the comfort of the rooms before anyone else arrives. She brings Harriet. Frank has been on the watch. He is restless and eager, while half the neighbourhood seems invited to advise Mr Weston on candles and comfort.
Mrs Elton enters with studied elegance and seems to think it her duty, as much as Mrs Weston's, to receive the guests. Frank is curious, then displeased when she calls Jane Fairfax Jane. Miss Bates comes in talking, thick shoes, no rain to signify, and Aladdin's lamp for the lights, and she is still talking minutes later. Mrs Weston realises Mrs Elton must be asked to open the ball. Emma hears that with fortitude. Frank turns at once to claim her as his partner, and boasts that he is an engaged man. Mr Weston and Mrs Elton lead. Frank and Emma follow. She must dance second, though she had thought the evening was her own.
The dancing is lively until Harriet sits alone without a partner. Mr Elton saunters near her, then tells Mrs Weston his dancing days are over. His wife's glances show the refusal is deliberate. Knightley has been standing among the husbands, fathers, and whist-players, his tall figure easy to pick out against their stooping shoulders. A few steps nearer are enough to show how he would dance if he took the trouble. He leads Harriet into the set. His dancing is as good as Emma believed, and Harriet bounds down the middle in a continual course of smiles. Elton retreats to the card-room. Mrs Elton says, audibly, that Knightley has taken pity on poor little Miss Smith.
After supper Emma thanks him. He says the Eltons meant to wound more than Harriet, and asks why they are her enemies. She admits she wanted him to marry Harriet, and they cannot forgive her. When dancing resumes she asks him to partner her. He offers his hand. She says they are not really so much brother and sister as to make it improper. He answers, "Brother and sister! no, indeed."
