It was more or less a tradition for Isabella and John's family to visit Hartfield at Christmas, but this year, Emma Woodhouse would not be there, having now become Emma Knightley.
They had barely been married a month, and while they were quite accustomed to seeing each other daily, or nearly so, it was still quite novel for Mr. Knightley not to be returning to Donwell Abbey in the evenings.
"It's getting quite late, George," John Knightley remarked. "Don't you think you should be getting home?"
"Yes, Mrs. Knightley might worry," Isabella laughed. "John, perhaps you should get to bed."