Exactly. I think that people seem to underestiatme the social power that a woman like Emma, taking up a girl like Harriet, wields. Harriet is not IMO to be blamed for being flattered by being noticed and considered a close friend by the first lady of hte area. She'd have to be very very virtuous to decide not to become Emma's friend and companion, and as her protegee, she si not going to go against what Emma wants her to do. And while she was clearly fond of Robert Martin and would have fallen in love with him and married him, had Emma not intervened, I dont see that she HAS to marry him, jsut becuase he asked her. She does not owe the Martins perpetual freindship, just because she spent a bit of time with them or they showed her kindness. She should not cut them, and she doesn't, but she does (again under Emma's pushing her) "cool it" a bit iwth them. She should not do that, but with the first lady of hte villlage pushing her, how is she to resist?