end completely on my screen.

Wrapt up in a closk of politeness...
is the description of Jane by Emma when she visits Hartfield. What Emma normally thinks of Jane is that she's too reserved and cold.

What about Mr Knighgtley's thoughts later on;

I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it.

So all along it was a 'blame', by Mr Knightley, you see. What he said was to be borne. Don't take his words so seriously. ;-)

I find this an interesting presentation of complicated human relationships by JA.

It's a situation like that of forcing water on a plant so that it bears fruit out of season, instead of realising the season is not favourable - inspite of all the rules of society.

Personally I think that Emma did a lot for the really poor families and people. Just a Jane Fairfax cannot cancel all that.

In addition, remember it wasn't as if Jane was a permanent resident of Highbury. She was there today, gone tomorrow.

If Emma is to be blamed for anything then it's for being rude to Miss Bates, at Box Hill. Miss Bates is not the poor of Highbury.