It struck me very strongly in this read, that Emma was impressed with Mr. Martin's letter but still thinks him an oafish farmer with no polish. She says

"so good a letter, Harriet, that every thing considered, I think one of his sisters must have helped him. I can hardly imagine the young man whom I saw talking with you the other day could express himself so well,"

She has hardly exchanged a word with him and she jumps to this conclusion - I am really finding it hard to forgive her at this point.

My question at this point in the story is: Is this view of the farming class prevalent in Jane's time, or is this just Emma's lack of a wider society. Is she parroting a societal belief or is it her total focus on Harriet and Mr. Elton that blinds her? I just can't put my finer on it yet.

Any ideas?