But he does say in chapter 54 that he has "taken some pains for your sake, and for Robert Martin's sake, (whom I have always had reason to believe as much in love with her as ever,) to get acquainted with her. I have often talked to her a good deal. You must have seen that I did. Sometimes, indeed, I have thought you were half suspecting me of pleading poor Martin's cause, which was never the case"

Compare what he says here to what Emma thinks about getting Harriet and Frank together (in chapter 39):"There could be no harm in a scheme, a mere passive scheme. It was no more than a wish. Beyond it she would on no account proceed."