that if nothing else would teach Emma (or any of us!) not to engineer and push such attachments in the first place, that this 'grating' consequence would do so! For her own selfish comfort if nothing else, Emma ought learn not to force a focus onto another person in the first place! I cannot feel sorry for Emma here and certainly don't see her as 'heroic' because she does not bat Harriet across the room---she was the one who created Harriet's focus to start with, away from Mr. Martin and onto Mr. Elton, even unto the point of arousing expectations of marriage! I think Emma is only reaping here what she herself has so earnestly sown! Now it is 'grating' to her and she is bored so wants her little pawn to drop it and move on? Because it is annoying to Emma?! No, I cannot feel sorry for Emma here...and only hope she would see it as her own doing and take this as due and self-created repayment!