***"I do not admire it," said Mr. Knightley. "It is too small -- wants strength. It is like a woman's writing."***

Sometimes it's a sheer relief once Mr Knightley comes on the scene! He seems to cut through all kinds of gossip, with his incisive comments on things. Just enough before things change again, that is! He certainly does not like Frank Churchill, in referring to his writing as if it were by a female. Still, the reason for his intense dislike is food for intrigue, my focus for the GR. There is certainly plenty of gossip and intrigue in this novel.

Yes, he does have a good intellectual conversation with Emma, while Frank seems to lead her stray, but still engages her well. It's interesting to read the differences. Yet Emma seems to feel herself flattered by Frank, but not really in love with him, or it feels like she talks herself out of it for her own reasons. He could well be in love with her, but something always seems to hold Emma back.

As other posters have pointed out, all along so far, I think Emma is like her father in that she dislikes change, and would not want to leave her father. I found it amazing she is totally against Mr Knightley marrying ever at all, for the sake of his brother John's boys inheriting Donwell!