Chapter 9
Emma's return to Hartfield was heralded on the first day after the snow storm. That morning, her nephews, Henry and John, had taken turns keeping look out for their aunt and uncle, and little John was delighted that she arrived on his "watch." The children, John, Isabella and Mr. Woodhouse were all waiting excitedly at the front porch by the time Mr. Knightley's horses slowly finished making their way down the path through the deep snow. Hartfield's groom helped Miss Woodhouse from her horse, and as soon as she alighted, she bounded over to her father to give him a hug and a kiss, and they began an excited exchange of greetings.
Mr. Knightley had been concerned that Mr. Woodhouse would fault him for Emma's absence, and he was relieved to learn that her father's true anxiety had been that Mr. Knightley might attempt to venture to Hartfield with Emma while it yet snowed, and they would be lost. He admitted that as long as she stayed at Donwell, he knew that Emma would be well.
After the family had all retreated to the warmth of the parlor at Mr. Woodhouse's insistence, Emma presented her father with the three letters she had written to him – one for each day at Donwell. Mr. Woodhouse was delighted at this proof that she had kept him close in her thoughts, and was anxious to read them. He settled in by the fire and opened the first letter, calling for Isabella to sit with him so he could read it aloud to her.
"Can we play in snow now, Father?" asked Henry. "We haven't been outside in days and days," he pleaded. He was joined by a chorus of "Yes, please, Father" from his siblings.
"Alright, yes, yes," pronounced John Knightley. "Everybody get your coat and hat and gloves on, and we can all go play in the snow."
"Will you come too, Uncle George?" asked Henry.
"Of course, Henry. It's a capital idea," said Mr. Knightley. "Emma, will you join us?"
"Oh yes, thank you, in a little while. My first order of the day is to change out of this dress. I have been wearing it for three days and I couldn't bear to wear it for one more."
"Three days? Really? I hadn't noticed." He gave her a sly smile and she rolled her eyes, but laughed.
***
A snow ball fight was well underway when Emma finally ventured outside. Her nephews decided that armies should be formed in battle – their uncle and father against Emma and the children -- Henry, John, George and even little Bella, who looked adorable as always, hiding behind Emma's dress for protection. Lines thus drawn, the battle continued, with children and adults alike laughing uproariously as they lobbed and dodged snowballs.
At one point, Emma let fly at Mr. Knightley a large, perfectly aimed snowball, which hit him squarely in the chest. "Ha! Got him! A perfect shot, Aunt Emma!" cried Henry.
Mr. Knightley looked down at his chest as the snow slowly fell away, then dramatically held his arms out to his sides, closed his eyes and ever… so … slowly fell back into the snow! Emma and the children squealed with delight. "Oh! What I have I done to your uncle?" she cried. "Dear me! Let's see!" She ran to where Mr. Knightley lay in the snow and looked down. Mr. Knightley opened one eye and said, with a smirk, "Don't worry. It's only a flesh wound."
The children laughed as they ran to join her, and Emma cried, "Not to worry, children! I am happy to report that your uncle still lives. I think only his pride is wounded! He'll recover nicely." Little John reached her as she said those last words, but he slipped in the snow and could not stop in time. He stumbled and fell into her, causing Emma to fall forward uncontrollably. She yelped as she fell, landing with her knees to Mr. Knightley's side but her chest on his, and one of her arms on either side of his head. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her as her cold cheek ended up next to his warm one. She was laughing so hard she could barely get her words out: "I'm ... I'm so sorry, Mr. Knightley..." But by then Henry had reached them, and he let out a shout and purposely dove on top of them, to be followed by George, and then their brother John, who had recovered from the initial tumble that had sent Emma flying. Even Bella giggled as knelt down next to the pile that was comprised of her uncle, her aunt and her brothers, all of whom were laughing wildly.
"John, John, you must help us!" cried Mr. Knightley to his brother. A merry John Knightley used his strong arms to pick up his children, one by one, and set them aside. He then grabbed Emma about the waist and easily lifted her, too. "I say, I think Henry weighs more than you do, Emma," he laughed.
Emma, who was still laughing and trying to catch her breath, wiped away a tear with her muffler.
"Are you alright, Emma?" asked John.
"Oh yes," she sniffled, still giggling between words. "I assure you these are tears of laughter."
"Say! What about me, John?!" Mr. Knightley was still lying in snow; the familial pile up had pushed him deeper into the snow and he could not seem to gain purchase to get up. "Looks like I need your help, too, John," he laughed.
"What, do you say, Emma, shall I help my brother get up?" John Knightley asked mischievously.
Emma finally caught her breath and replied, "Well, the snow will surely melt within a month or two. Do you really think it's necessary?"
"My thought exactly!" John Knightley laughed, but reached down to give Mr. Knightley a hand.
"That's a fine thank you for three days of Donwell hospitality, I'll say, Emma," Mr. Knightley quipped as he rose, "offering to leave me to the elements for two months! Ha!" When was back on his feet, he feigned throwing a non-existent snowball at her, making her jump, then laugh.
"Well, as my penance, let me help you get some of that snow off," she said, stepping close to him and brushing the snow from one of his shoulders. "You are a veritable snowman, Mr. Knightley. Children, come help me." Within moments, he was surrounded by his happy niece and nephews, doing their best to help brush the snow from his coat. Then Emma added, "John, do you suppose the children have had enough playing in the snow for one day? I know that I have. Children, what would you say to some hot apple cider now?"
In response to their chorus of "yeses," John Knightley snatched up his daughter to carry her inside, while Mr. Knightley picked up his little namesake and put him on his shoulders. Emma retrieved Mr. Knightley's hat from where it had fallen in the snow, and realizing he could not wear it as long as their nephew was perched on his shoulders, placed it on top of her own cap. Little George giggled at her.
"Is everyone ready to go in?" called John Knightley, but Henry and little John had already run ahead. Stepping between Mr. Knightley and John Knightley, Emma hooked one of her arms in each of theirs, and they made their way down the path to the house. "What a happy family we all are," Emma sighed contentedly. Mr. Knightley looked down at her and nodded in agreement.
