The Westons'ball at The Crown is to be a real thing. The last paragraph of this chapter reads:

Mr. Woodhouse was resigned. The time of year lightened the evil to him. May was better for every thing than February. Mrs. Bates was engaged to spend the evening at Hartfield, James had due notice, and he sanguinely hoped that neither dear little Henry nor dear little John would have any thing the matter with them, while dear Emma was gone.

I'm a bit puzzled about the reference to little Henry and little John. Are they not with their parents in London? Or have I missed something and John Knightley and his family are still at Highbury? If they are in London and have something the matter with them, what possible difference can it make if dear Emma is just down the road at The Crown dancing for a few hours? Does Mr Woodhouse imagine that she would go tearing off to London in the middle of the night if little Henry or John should happen to be unwell?

I admit to finding Mr Woodhouse deeply exasperating, though I do feel sorry for him. He really does go looking for things to worry about. Definitely a 'cup half empty' sort of a man.

What a contrast with Mr Weston. When he learns that Frank is to remove from London to Richmond, only nine miles away:

...Richmond was the very distance for easy intercourse. Better than nearer!