Aweekpassed,andnonewsarrivedofMr.Rochester:tendays,andstillhedidnotrs.FairfaxsaidsheshouldnotbesurprisedifheweretoghtfromtheLeastoLondon,aotheti,andnotshowhisfaceagainatThornfieldforayeartoe;hehadnotunfrequentlyquitteditinamannerquiteasabruptandued.Whehis,Iwasbeginningtofeelastrangechillandfailingattheheart.Iwasactuallypermittingmyselftoexperienceasiingsenseofdisappoi;butrallyingmywits,andrecollegmyprinciples,Iatoncecalledmysensationstoorder;anditwaswonderfulhowIgotoverthetemporaryblunder—howIclearedupthemistakeofsupposingMr.Rochester’smovementsamatterinwhichIhadanycausetotakeavitali.NotthatIhumbledmyselfbyaslavishnotionofinferiority:orary,Ijustsaid—

    “YouhavenothingtodowiththemasterofThornfield,furtherthantoreceivethesalaryhegivesyouforteaghisprotégée,andtobegratefulforsuchrespectfulandkimentas,ifyoudoyourduty,youhavearighttoexpectathishands.Besurethatistheonlytieheseriouslyaowledgesbetweenyouandhim;sodon’tmakehimtheobjectofyourfinefeelings,yourraptures,agonies,andsoforth.Heisnotofyourorder:keeptoyourcaste,aooself-respegtolavishtheloveofthewholeheart,soul,andstrength,wheresuchagiftisnotwantedandwouldbedespised.”

    Iwentonwithmyday’sbusiranquilly;buteverandanonvaguesuggestiowanderingaybrainofreasonswhyIshouldquitThornfield;ainvoluntarilyframingadvertisementsandpjecturesaboutuations:thesethoughtsIdidnotthiheymightgerminateandbearfruitiftheycould.

    Mr.Rochesterhadbeeupwardsofafht,whebroughtMrs.Fairfaxaletter.

    “Itisfromthemaster,”saidshe,asshelookedat