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An Indifferent Acquaintance   Written by Robbin (2/3/2011 10:00 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Which makes [] good manners the more valuable, penned by Stephanie
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I was not suggesting if Emma accepted Robert Martin’s acquaintance that she was safe from ever doing it again. I was saying accepting the acquaintance of Robert Martin does not elevate him to Emma’s sphere of society. At least that is what I think. (:D) Emma will not be obligated to invite him or other Martins to Hartfield for tea and Robert Martin’s correct behavior on Donwell road speaks to the fact she need have no fear the sensible Martins would ply her with “encroaching” invitations to Abbey Mill Farm.

Of course an acquaintance between Emma and Robert Martin would be guided by rules of etiquette and the important facts she is female and outranks him always gives the choice of notice and the degree of familiarity to Emma. As we see their lives it does not seem to me they would run into each other socially. What seems more probable is they might pass each other in public but here Emma is still safe from Robert Martin. Ladies had the choice to acknowledge or not to acknowledge men in public with whom they have only an indifferent acquaintance—see L&T post 48021 below. So if Emma really wanted to ignore Robert Martin’s acquaintance the next time she saw him on the road to Donwell or on the streets of Highbury she could do it “without her motives being questioned” (Etiquette for Ladies and Gentlemen Or, the Principles of True Politeness).

I found some L&T posts on introductions and several on the Donwell road incident specifically. I have read them before and they first put these ideas in my brain. It was nice to read JulieW’s lovely posts again. (:D) In post 47991 (below) part of the advice to both sexes for conduct towards inferiors was to “shew much humanity and some familiarity” (Precepts of William Lord Burghley to his Son) which is something Emma did for the cottagers (10) but failed to do towards Robert Martin on Donwell road. There are no spoilers in these posts but (danger) there are in the thread in which they reside:

Try this Written by JulieW (August 20, 2007)
http://www.pemberley.com/bin/archives/regarc.pl?read=48021

This chapter shows Emma at her most Written by JulieW (August 19, 2007)
http://www.pemberley.com/bin/archives/regarc.pl?read=47991

I think Written by JulieW (August 20, 2007)
http://www.pemberley.com/bin/archives/regarc.pl?read=48004

I hope your concerns have been gentled Stephanie. Thanks for reading! (:D)


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