It is very unfair to judge of any body’s conduct, without an intimate knowledge of their situation…
Emma pleads for context in judging Frank Churchill. The principle is generous, even if her affection for Frank muddies her motive. Austen will test this claim against Frank’s later conduct, showing how easy it is to defend what flatters us. Still, the sentence stands as a fair rule for a town that thrives on talk. The irony lies in Emma preaching what she herself needs to practice more widely. The cadence is judicial, which makes it feel cool and reasonable. It foreshadows Emma’s better behavior toward Jane once she starts listening. The novel keeps saying: know before you judge.