I agree with Laraine that DOMW simply needs time to think over any new idea - Emma has to talk to him often and well in advance about giving a dinner party or going out before he will get used to the thought.

Mr Weston and Frank are too hasty for him (LOL Crystal!) and do not know, as Emma and Mrs Weston do, how to manage him. But does that mean that anything is actually done less quickly? I get the impression that while giving Mr Woodhouse the illusion of everything's being slowly thought over, they are used to managing things so that they are organised quite as quickly as otherwise. Does anyone else think this?