CHAPTER XV

ithsnow,andofitsstillsnowingfast,withastrongdriftingwindconcludingwiththesewordstoMr.Woodhouse: “Thiswillproveaspiritedbeginningofyourwinterengagements,sir.Somethingnewforyourcoachmanandhorsestobemakingtheirwaythroughastormofsnow.” PoorMr.Woodhousewassilentfromconsternationbuteverybodyelsehadsomethingtosayeverybodywaseithersurprizedornotsurprized,andhadsomequestiontoask,orsomecomforttooffer.Mrs.WestonandEmmatriedearnestlytocheerhimandturnhisattentionfromhisson-in-law,whowaspursuinghistriumphratherunfeelingly. “Iadmiredyourresolutionverymuch,sir,”saidhe,“inventuringoutinsuchweather,forofcourseyousawtherewouldbesnowverysoon.Everybodymusthaveseenthesnowcomingon.IadmiredyourspiritandIdaresayweshallgethomeverywell.Anotherhourortwo’ssnowcanhardlymaketheroadimpassableandwearetwocarriagesifoneisblownoverinthebleakpartofthecommonfieldtherewillbetheotherathand.IdaresayweshallbeallsafeatHartfieldbeforemidnight.” Mr.Weston,withtriumphofadifferentsort,wasconfessingthathehadknownittobesnowingsometime,buthadnotsaidaword,lestitshouldmakeMr.Woodhouseuncomfortable,andbeanexcuseforhishurryingaway.Astotherebeinganyquantityofsnowfallenorlikelytofalltoimpedetheirreturn,thatwasamerejokehewasafraidtheywouldfindnodifficulty.Hewishedtheroadmightbeimpassable,thathemightbeabletokeepthemallatRandallsandwiththeutmostgood-willwassurethataccommodationmightbefoundforeverybody,callingonhiswifetoagreewithhim,thatwithalittlecontrivance,everybodymightbelodged,whichshehardlyknewhowtodo,fromtheconsciousnessoftherebeingbuttwospareroomsinthehouse. “Whatistobedone,mydearEmma?—whatistobedone?”wasMr.Woodhouse’sfirstexclamation,andallthathecouldsayforsometime.Toherhelookedforcomfortandherassurancesofsafety,herrepresentationoftheexcellenceofthehorses,andofJames,andoftheirhavingsomanyfriendsaboutthem,revivedhimalittle. Hiseldestdaughter’salarmwasequaltohisown.ThehorrorofbeingblockedupatRandalls,whileherchildrenwereatHartfield,wasfullinherimaginationandfancyingtheroadtobenowjustpassableforadventurouspeople,butinastatethatadmittednodelay,shewaseagertohaveitsettled,thatherfatherandEmmashouldremainatRandalls,whilesheandherhusbandsetforwardinstantlythroughallthepossibleaccumulationsofdriftedsnowthatmightimpedethem. “Youhadbetterorderthecarriagedirectly,mylove,”saidshe“Idaresayweshallbeabletogetalong,ifwesetoffdirectlyandifwedocometoanythingverybad,Icangetoutandwalk.Iamnotatallafraid.Ishouldnotmindwalkinghalftheway.Icouldchangemyshoes,youknow,themomentIgothomeanditisnotthesortofthingthatgivesmecold.” “Indeed!”repliedhe.“Then,mydearIsabella,itisthemostextraordinarysortofthingintheworld,foringeneraleverythingdoesgiveyoucold.Walkhome!—youareprettilyshodforwalkinghome,Idaresay.Itwillbebadenoughforthehorses.” IsabellaturnedtoMrs.Westonforherapprobationoftheplan.Mrs.Westoncouldonlyapprove.IsabellathenwenttoEmmabutEmmacouldnotsoentirelygiveupthehopeoftheirbeingallabletogetawayandtheywerestilldiscussingthepoint,whenMr.Knightley,whohadlefttheroomimmediatelyafterhisbrother’sfirstreportofthesnow,camebackagain,andtoldthemthathehadbeenout