No, I would not wish sainthood on Emma or anyone. I think Emma has the potential to be better than laughing at someone’s discomfort when she has the power to do something about it. If she had I assure you there would have been no complaints from me. I was very pleased with Emma’s compassion for Jane at the strawberry picking party and only wish she could be so more often.

Before the Cole’s party Emma had a history of not visiting Mrs. Bates and at Box Hill she ridiculed her before mutual friends and those who might emulate her careless treatment of the lady. It seems a great leap but I feel Emma did not just jump from not doing as much as she ought to ridiculing Miss Bates in public. My end point in bringing up all the little neglects on Emma’s part over the past weeks was to follow the progression of Emma’s poor treatment of those she dislikes. I hope Box Hill is the peak of her poor behavior. (:D)