OLD FRIENDS AND NEW FANCIES _AN IMAGINARY SEQUEL_ _TO THE NOVELS OF JANE AUSTEN_ BY SYBIL G. BRINTON LONDON HOLDEN & HARDINGHAM ADELPHI 1913 In this little attempt at picturing the after-adventures of some of Jane Austen's characters I have made use of the references to them which she herself made, and which are recorded in Mr. Austen-Leigh's "Memoir." More grateful acknowledgments than I can ever express are due to my friend Edith Barran, without whom this book could not have been written. The difficulties, as well as the presumption, of such an undertaking, are alike evident; but the fascination of the subject must be our apology to those who, like ourselves, "owe to Jane Austen of the happiest hours of their lives." S.G.B. _The following characters are introduced into the story:--_ From _Pride and Prejudice._ Elizabeth Bennet (now Mrs. Darcy). Jane Bennet (now Mrs. Bingley). Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley. Miss Bingley. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. Kitty Bennet. Mr. Bennet. Georgiana Darcy. Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Miss de Bourgh. Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Gardiner. Mrs. Annesley. From _Mansfield Park._ William Price. Mary Crawford. Henry Crawford. Mrs. Grant. Mr. Yates. Mrs. Yates. Tom Bertram. From _Northanger Abbey._ James Morland. Eleanor Tilney (now Lady Portinscale). General Tilney. Captain Tilney. Isabella Thorpe. From _Sense and Sensibility._ Elinor Dashwood (now Mrs. Edward Ferrars). Edward Ferrars. Robert Ferrars. Mrs. Jennings. Lucy Steele (now Mrs. Robert Ferrars). Anne Steele. Mr. Palmer. From _Persuasion._ Captain Wentworth. Anne Elliot (now Mrs. Wentworth). Sir Walter Elliot. Miss Elliot. From _Emma._ Emma Woodhouse (now Mrs. Knightley). Mr. Knightley. Chapter I There is one characteristic which may be safely said to belong to nearly all happily-married couples--that of desiring to see equally happy marriages among their young friends; and in some cases, where their wishes are strong and circumstances seem favourable to the exertion of their own efforts, they may even embark upon the perilous but delightful course of helping those persons whose minds are as yet not made up, to form a decision respecting this important crisis in life, and this done, to assist in clearing the way in order that this decision may forthwith be acted upon.