“And, in return for your acknowledging so much, I will do you the justice to say, that you would have chosen for him better than he has chosen for himself.⁠—Harriet Smith has some first-rate qualities, which Mrs. Elton is totally without. An unpretending, single-minded, artless girl⁠—infinitely to be preferred by any man of sense and taste to such a woman as Mrs. Elton. I found Harriet more conversable than I expected.”

Emma was extremely gratified.⁠—They were interrupted by the bustle of Mr. Weston calling on everybody to begin dancing again.

“Come Miss Woodhouse, Miss Otway, Miss Fairfax, what are you all doing?⁠—Come Emma, set your companions the example. Everybody is lazy! Everybody is asleep!”

“I am ready,” said Emma, “whenever I am wanted.”