Sarcasm

"Come, Mr. Wickmen, we are brother and sister, you know.Do not let us quarrel about the past. In the future, I hope we shall always be of one mind." (Chapt. 52, page 237).

Austin's fills her works with sarcasm as this passage proves. Most of Austin's characters mean the opposite of what they pass between speech. This allows characters to have an argument, while sounding polite and completely dignified. In this passage Elizabeth concludes expressing her differences with Mr. Wickmen by informing him that she wishes them to be of the same mind. It is obvious to the reader and certainly to Mr. Wickmen as well, that Elizabeth does not wish this. Elizabeth is aware that their differences will remain despite their discussion.