Does Mr. Knightley scorn Harriet in social situations? Emma thought on seeing their tête-à-tête at Donwell Abbey that there had been “a time when he would have scorned her as a companion, and turned from her with little ceremony” (42) which I interpret to mean that after he spoke with Harriet, as propriety demands of a gentleman, he would excuse himself and move on to more interesting agreeable society and conversation. Emma’s thought reveals that Mr. Knightley did not scorn Harriet in social situations although he may very well prefer the conversation of other folks. Also Mr. Knightley could not have turned from Harriet unless they had been socializing. Harriet told Emma she had “begun to be sensible of his talking to her much more than he had been used to do” (47) which again shows that he did indeed socialize with Harriet before the ball (38). If scorning Harriet in society is the only evidence of snobbery then I put forth that Mr. Knightley is not a snob. (:D)