I love this chapter. We, the reader, get to sit in as guests, so to speak, at very animated Hartfield dinner. It is chock-full of characterization to say the least and is brimming with a great deal of wonderfully revealing dialog. Just some of the things that I'd like to comment on:

*Mr. Woodhouse does not want Mr. Knightley to join them for dinner as he doesn't want to share his first day with Isabella with anyone, conveniently forgeting Mr. Knightley's generous concession of giving up all his time to have the Knightley's at Donwell so they can spend their entire stay at Hartfield. (lol)

*Love the relationship of the Knightley brothers and the laid-back, seemingly indifferent greeting they give each other which is indicative of their low key but wonderful relationship.

*The similarity of Mr. Woodhouse and Isabella was more distinctly noticable on this reading. They were the only two to have the basin of gruel ordered. Their concern for their health and that of those around them is a similar constant worry. Neither will give way to other or steer away from what are dangerous topics for them, neither semming to have a clue about it and each seemingly unable to help it. Is Isbella a glimpse of what Mr. W was like in his earlier years and he what Isabella will be in the future: a gently selfish valetudinarian?

*Speaking of gruel---Mr. W: "My dear Emma, suppose we all have a little gruel." Emma could not suppose any such thing,...(nor could anyone else) (lol)

*Perry vs Wingfield: who would you prefer? They seem mirror images, each doing the same job, one for Mr. W and the other for Isabella. If they ever met, (Perry and Wingfield) I would love to be in on that conversation.

*Well, after racking up points in the negative column I would credit Emma some in the positive column in this chapter for her valiant efforts at keeping everything running as smoothly as possible throughout that gently selfish tug-of-war. She probably slept well after refereeing all night! ;-)

*Haven't we all been to dinner similar to this at one time or another? I could go on and on about this chapter but will stop for now. Did I say I love this chapter? (Most amusing.)