I had never really thought of comparing the two, mainly because I always found Mr. Elton to be a bit silly. Emma seems to think the same, as his manners "incline her to laugh". I wonder if, besides her thinking Harriet is not very particular, this is why she sets him up with Harriet? She must not see him as being very particular or clever either. ;-)

And what a contrast between him and Mr. Martin! Mr. Martin may not be as "gentle" but he seems to be genuinely kind and thoughtful. Mr. Elton is almost leech-like, I think, the way he dangles after the girls. I'm inclined to give both Emma and Harriet SUTHs, Emma for devaluing such a stand-up guy, and Harriet for rejecting him in favor of someone so disingenuous as Mr. Elton.