politely and without giving a reason Mr Knightley would, for a time, have avoided her as much as possible, though he couldn't do it entirely. Emma would have had to tell Harriet, in all conscience, that she had reason to believe Mr Knightley did not love Harriet. This would be awkward, since a lady should not discuss proposals she has refused. It still will be awkward as things are, but that is a matter for next week. Harriet would in time have fallen in love again - she is 17, after all. I agree that Mr Knightley would have tried again - if he did it would probably have been prefaced with an assurance that if she said no again he would cease to try.

As I said in my original post, and Nikki expanded on in hers, if Emma had tried to persuade Mr Knightley to transfer his attentions to Harriet he would have been very annoyed and a serious quarrel might have resulted. In such a case he might not have proposed again - or not for a much longer time, since he would have far more resentment to overcome.