EMMA Emma Woodhouse The imaginative and self-deceived heroine of the novel. At almost twenty-one years of age, she is handsome, accomplished, and willful, her main duty in life that of being companion and mistress of the house for her widower father. Henry Woodhouse Emma's elderly father, who basks in routine and Emma's attentions and resists any kind of change, compensating somewhat for his selfish whims by being kindly and concerned about people's health. George Knightley A well-to-do man of about...

Harriet Smith's intimacy at Hartfield was soon a settled thing. Quick and decided in her ways, Emma lost no time in inviting, encouraging, and telling her to come very often; and as their acquaintance increased, so did their satisfaction in each other. As a walking companion, Emma had very early foreseen how useful she might find her. In that respect Mrs. Weston's loss had been important. Her father never went beyond the shrubbery, where two divisions of the ground sufficed him for his long walk, or his short, as the year varied; and since Mrs...