I have long held that had Mrs. Elton (or anyone else) really wanted be a friend to Jane, they would have been more active trying to get Jane honorably married, rather than employed. A beautiful, accomplished, elegant young woman could be matched with a man who had means. Miss Taylor found a good match, as portionless as she was.

It strikes me as odd that the Highbury men (at least Frank and Mr.Knightly) valued Jane more than the women. I fancy that part of Jane's reserve was that she was not unaccustomed to being admired and she did not want to have to deflect suitors.