Posted by Kathy F. on June 14, 1997 at 22:51:37:
In reply to Re: S&S and Emma posted by Barbara on June 11, 1997 at 15:33:33
]
] I think Edward was in denial about the whole thing. He was kind of acting as if maybe he ignored the engagement, it would just go away.
] I think another problem is that if Frank really loved Jane, he was a cad to treat her so, even if they did have a secret engagement. Why could he not simply have ignored her rather than going out of his way to pretend he didn't like her and did like someone else.
________
Good point for Edward!
About Frank and Jane, though--I think that Frank might have been so aware of his engagement that he thought that others might suppose that something was going on between them (maybe a bit of Weymouth gossip had reached Highbury or something). Therefore, rather than merely ignore Jane, he went out of his way to prove that he was not attached to anybody. An analogy: If you think there is a fault in your outward appearance (bad hair day, mismatched socks, or whatever) you might overcompensate for that fault so that others won't notice it. Frank was a cad, but his relationship with Emma "was a blind to conceal" his true engagement. He probably thought that with his good looks and charm, if he were not "making love" to Emma (as pretty, witty, and rich as she is), people would wonder what love he had elsewhere. Also, his true purpose in coming to Highbury was because that is where Jane was. He was probably hyper-sensitive to that knowledge, and conceivably thought that others would put two and two together.
Kathy
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