“I never thought of Miss Smith in the whole course of my existence – never paid her any attentions but as your friend: never cared whether she were dead or alive, but as your friend. If she has fancied otherwise, her own wishes have misled her, and I am very sorry – extremely sorry – But, Miss Smith, indeed! – Oh! Miss Woodhouse! who can think of Miss Smith, when Miss Woodhouse is near!…I have thought only of you.”
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 15. Emma’s efforts to matchmake her lower class friend Harriet with Mr. Elton backfire, as seen in Mr. Elton’s response to Emma’s demand that he direct love to Harriet and not her. In a furious rant, Mr. Elton says that he doesn’t care whether Miss Smith is alive or dead, professing that he only has thoughts for Emma. Laid bare here is Emma’s poor judgment and misreading that Mr. Elton was romantically interested in Harriet. While she was preoccupied with matchmaking the two, she neglected to see that Mr. Elton was attracted to her.