I see love taking the almost-middle-aged Mr. Woodhouse rather by surprise, and his being genuinely charmed by the future Mrs. Woodhouse (rightfully so, in this case :-). After all, we are not told that Mr. Woodhouse has *always* been anti-marriage, just that he is so now. There has been speculation at the "Emma" board before now that his wife's premature death was what first caused Mr. Woodhouse to take a dim view about loved ones marrying.