Posted by Susan on June 04, 1997 at 22:08:01:
In reply to Emma3's chicken thieves posted by Kathy F. on June 03, 1997 at 01:26:35
] As to the chicken thieves, some people have wondered at it as an ending. My take on it is that he was trying to show that Emma and Mr. Knightley were not lying about the chicken thieves merely to get Mr. Woodhouse's approval to their marriage.
My take was that Emma was thinking of something that would make her father think her marriage to Mr. Knightley was a very good thing indeed because it would augment his own safety and comfort.
] Also, how else could he have ended it, given the harvest supper scenario (which I like, even though it was not in the book)?
How about following the book? :-) The harvest supper has really grown on me over time, but I'm still a purist.