Emma Woodhouse, an attractive young lady aged twenty, lives happily with her over-indulgent father in a country mansion, which is highly regarded in local society. She has befriended Harriet Smith, who tries to arrange a match for Emma with Mr Elton, the new Vicar, a handsome young man with a high opinion of himself. Elton misunderstands the situation and proposes to Emma. Not long afterwards, he marries a snobbish but money vulgarian. Emma has been reproved by Mr Knightley for her thoughtlessness on several occasions, and has had sense enough to see that he was right. She gladly accepts his proposal of marriage.