When Emma got engaged, I began to wonder if she'd come clean and hoped that she would. I felt that it would be too bad to start out a marriage with concealment, especially after she'd learned her lesson after engaging in untruths on behalf of her schemes. It was unworthy of her and I imagine she didn't want to carry this baggage into her marriage, hiding something in her heart as she said, "I do." On the other hand, it would be like another violation of that duty of women to women.

In the end, Emma was a very fortunate young lady that the problem of Harriet was solved for her. "The fact was, as Emma could now acknowledge, was that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin: and that his continuing to love her had been irresistible." (55) IMHO, Harriet under Emma's direction had transferred an unrealized crush from Robert Martin to Mr. Elton to Mr. Knightley and not really been in love with any them, but rather she was displacing an apparent affection for Robert Martin to the others. If things had been left to occur naturally, Harriet would have eventually found herself in love and married to Robert Martin ages ago.

Emma has come a long way in a short period of time and now believes in everything being above board. As Jane walked her downstairs and the two of them finally came to an understanding Emma said, "Oh! if you knew how much I love every thing that is decided and open!" (52) I am sure she will come completely clean of all she has been doing behind Mr. Knightley's back and own up to the responsibility. Mr. Knightley will easily understand Harriet's schoolgirl crush. I, for one, was relieved when she made the decision to tell Mr. Knightley.