The first time I read Emma I found Miss Bates to be annoying-but she has grown upon me with each subsequent read. Thanks to many of the insightful comments in this group read, I am gaining a true appreciation for some of the secondary characters in the novel.

I agree jeffrey, Miss Bates is a treasure. So much information just seems to "slip" from her mouth, and much of it very key to the story. I have always wondered why Emma would just automatically assume that some romantic interest existed between Mr. Dixon and Jane Fairfax from this single event.

Perhaps those are character flaws in Emma--an overactive immagination, combined with some foolish notions on the idea of love/romance.