As for Elinor, her self-control was at last rewarded, thanks to a strange volte-face on the part of Lucy Steele who, finding that Robert Ferrars had the money, married him and jilted his brother.  The way was thus cleared to Elinor’s union with Edward, whose mother was induced to give the young couple her consent, and a marriage portion of L10,000.

* * * * *

Pride and Prejudice

This, Jane Austen’s best-known novel, was written between 1796 and 1797, and was called “First Impressions.”  Revised in 1811, it was published two years later by the same Mr. Egerton, of the Military Library, Whitehall, who had brought out “Sense and Sensibility.”  Like its predecessor, and like “Northanger Abbey,” it was written at Steventon Rectory, and it is generally regarded not only as its author’s most popular but as her most representative achievement.  Wickham, the all-conquering young lady-killer of the story, is a favourite character of the novelist He figures as Willoughby in “Sense and Sensibility,” as Crawford in “Mansfield Park,” as Churchill in “Emma,” and—­to a certain extent—­as Wentworth in “Persuasion.”  Another characteristic feature of “Pride and Prejudice” is Wickham’s unprepared attachment to Lydia Bennet, resembling as it does Robert Ferrars’ startling engagement to Lucy Steele in “Sense and Sensibility,” Frank Churchill’s secret understanding with Jane Fairfax in “Emma,” and Captain Benwick’s sudden and unexpected union with Louisa Musgrove in “Persuasion.”

I.—­A Society Ball at Longbourn

All Longbourn was agape with excitement when it became known that Netherfield Park, the great place of the neighbourhood, was let to a rich and handsome young bachelor called Bingley, and that Mr. Bingley and his party were to attend the forthcoming ball at the Assembly Rooms.

Nowhere did the news create more interest and rouse greater hopes than in the household of the Bennets, the chief inhabitants of Longbourn; for Mr. Bennet—­who was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character—­was the father of five unmarried daughters; while Mrs. Bennet—­a still handsome woman, of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper—­made the business of her life getting her daughters married, and its solace visiting and news.

The evening fixed for the ball came round at last; and when the Netherfield party entered the Assembly Rooms it was found to consist of five persons altogether—­Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the elder, and another young man.