The first error and the worst lay at her door. It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. It was adventuring too far, assuming too much, making light of what ought to be serious, a trick of what ought to be simple. She was quite concerned and ashamed, and resolved to do such things no more.
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 16. For the first time Emma becomes aware of her mis-matchmaking, as she realizes that she might have misjudged Mr. Elton’s intentions. This is after Mr. Elton declares his love for Emma and proposes to her in the previous chapter. Never having considered Mr. Elton as a romantic partner, she had been convinced that he was courting her friend Harriet. Having attempted to matchmake Mr. Elton and Harriet, Emma realizes her own blindness and has to reexamine her own actions and feelings. The quote marks an important step on her journey from an over-confident meddler in other people’s romantic lives to a more mature woman who knows that love must be allowed to grow naturally. But old habits die hard and Emma never fully overcomes her desire to make matches for others.