Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 24. Mr. Bennet, who is fond of teasing his daughters, is being sarcastic when he says this to Elizabeth. But as always there is some truth in Mr. Bennet’s sarcastic humor. Mr. Bennet’s ironic comment is also foreshadowing of Elizabeth’s growing attaction for Wickham and her losing him to another woman. Irony is embedded in the soul of Austen’s novel and is one of her most important tools.