Relief and Reconciliation — Emma

Harriet is as eager as Emma to avoid a meeting face to face, and letters between them are painful enough for both young women. Emma sends her to Isabella in London on the plausible excuse of seeing a dentist, and Harriet is soon safe in Brunswick Square away from daily reminders of Hartfield.

Freed from constant guilt, Emma enjoys Mr. Knightley's visits and defers telling her father until Mrs. Weston is well enough to hear the news. She calls on Jane Fairfax, finds her transformed by relief, and endures Mrs. Elton's triumphant hints about secrets and governess situations. The Vicarage visit tests her patience but also her new humility.

When Mr. Elton blunders to Donwell seeking Knightley, Emma escapes with Jane downstairs. They forgive each other at once. Jane calls her past manner a life of deceit, and Emma insists the apologies are hers alone for suspicion and neglect.

Jane confides that after a period of mourning she and Frank will live at Enscombe. Emma leaves with secret satisfaction, two engaged women no longer enemies, while Harriet's absence buys time before harder news about Knightley and Emma must spread through Highbury. The summer days grow lighter as secrets fall away one by one in Highbury.