because he seems to me to be saying that Harriet shoudl not be given a chance to rise out of the "second set". Its true that Harriet does not have much brains, neither do many of the people of Hihgbury. The Coles are "allowed" to rise in society, becuase they have made a lot of money in trade. Mrs Goddard, while not very rich or grand, DOES go to Hartfield regularly and is part of Mr Woodhouse's circile of freinds.

H's father as it turns out, is not badly off and gives her a liberal allowance and a dowry. She is illegitimate its true but that is not her fault. If Emma as the first lady of Highbury is willing ot sponsor Harriet and if H's looks, and pleasnat disposition are able to bring her a chance of marrying someone comfortably off and genteel, the girl would indeed be a fool to prefer being in Mrs Goddards set and ending up marrying the writing masters' son or noone at all.. Emma may have raised Harriet's expectation too high but stranger things have happened than that a well off man might marry a pretty girl who has litlte other to recommned her but her good looks and amialbe nature... and it seems ot me that Mr K is being dismissive of H's chances of rising a little further in the world.