Elinor gloried in his integrity; and Marianne forgave all his offences in compassion for his punishment. (38)

That Edward’s refusal to abandon his engagement to Lucy paves the way for his marriage to Elinor is a good point out of several in your post. This exercise of Edward’s honor despite how “small…the consolation, beyond the consciousness of doing right” (38) also redeems his character for the crime of being unguarded in his behavior to Elinor at Norland. It makes him as close to worthy of Elinor as he can be. He sacrifices fortune, friends and hope only to be rewarded with more than his prospects ever promised—Elinor, true friends and the quiet, private, employed life he always desired. (:D)