On the surface, Lady Susan has been punished for her lying and scheming. She lost her best friend and her fiancé, lost control of her daughter, and is now married to a foolish man. However, Austen seems to suggest that Lady Susan’s circumstances aren’t all bad—her husband is rich and easily manipulated, after all. And Lady Susan never had much of a “conscience” to speak of, so it’s unlikely that she’ll feel any pangs of guilt. She can still control Sir James’s money, and her schemes won’t be hindered by financial concerns; she could even, hypothetically, maintain her affair with Mr. Manwaring, newly separated from his wife. Lady Susan gets off lightly for her lies and manipulation in the end, which leaves readers to wonder whether Austen really condemns her actions. Lady Susan is, after all, a product of her society: her boredom causes her cruelty, and the societal limitations placed on women make that cruelty possible. Lady Susan’s prescribed role in polite society is what allows her to lie.