] I am so glad it is confined to Emma’s imagination.

It is not confined. In Chapter 24, Emma tells Frank Churchill her suspicions, which she believes are confirmed by the gift of a pianoforté. "Yes, and what you told me on that head, confirmed an idea which I had entertained before. I do not mean to reflect upon the good intentions of either Mr. Dixon or Miss Fairfax, but I cannot help suspecting either that, after making his proposals to her friend, he had the misfortune to fall in love with her, or that he became conscious of a little attachment on her side."

Before this, Frank did not talk much about Jane and did not seem interested in visiting the Bates. However, at the end of Chapter 27, Frank is taking a long time to fix Mrs. Bates spectacles and at the start of chapter 28, he is helping Jane level her pianoforté. He then openly says:

"Whoever Col. Campbell might employ," said Frank Churchill, with a smile at Emma, "the person has not chosen ill. I heard a good deal of Col. Campbell's taste at Weymouth; and the softness of the upper notes I am sure is exactly what he and all that party would particularly prize. I dare say, Miss Fairfax, that he either gave his friend very minute directions, or wrote to Broadwood himself. Do not you think so?"

Jane did not look round. She was not obliged to hear. Mrs. Weston had been speaking to her at the same moment.

"It is not fair," said Emma in a whisper, "mine was a random guess. Do not distress her."