Jane Eyre 171-219

This section begins with the fact that Jane is sad that Rochester has been gone for a week. We also learn that he may continue on to Europe without returning to Thornfield at all. This sis bad news because according to Mrs. Fairfax, Rochester could be gone for over a year. We learn later that Rochester will be arriving back in about 10 days with some guests. While she is waiting for Mr. Rochester to come back Jane hears two other servants discussing Grace Poole's high salary. There is something interesting and weird about that girl and her role at Thornfield. Rochester soon arrives and has many high end gusts. Jane is forced to join the group of people but she prefers not to. Balanche and her mother are some of the guests that arrived with Rochester. They treat Jane badly and with cruelty. Jane tries to leave the party but Rochester doesn't let her. However he then lets her go and tells her she must come every evening. The guests stay at Thornfield for several days. Jane realizes that Balanche and Rochester will be married soon. However she also realizes that they do not seem to love each other. It seems as if this marriage was happening for social status and wealth. Also one day Mr. Mason arrives at Thornfield. He is a strange man from the West Indies. When Rochester finds out that Mason has arrived he looks troubled.

In this section of the book it is quite apparent that Jane has actual feelings for Rochester. She longs for him to comeback to Thornfield. She would be quite disappointed if she found out that Rochester would be gone for a year. However she must have been more disappointed when she found out that Rochester was bringing guests home. One of these guests was Balanche who treated Jane poorly. To make it worse she finds out that Balanche and Rochester are going to be married soon, not because they love each other but for wealth and social status.