Jane Eyre - Pennsylvania State University

had no change.
Charlotte Brontë
“I hope not, sir; but I must seek another situation some-
“I don’t want change; you know that. Take your wages.” where.”
I declined accepting more than was my due. He scowled at “In course!” he exclaimed, with a twang of voice and a dis-
first; then, as if recollecting something, he said -
tortion of features equally fantastic and ludicrous. He looked
“Right, right! Better not give you all now: you would, per- at me some minutes.
haps, stay away three months if you had fifty pounds. There “And old Madam Reed, or the Misses, her daughters, will
are ten; is it not plenty?”
be solicited by you to seek a place, I suppose?”
“Yes, sir, but now you owe me five.”
“No, sir; I am not on such terms with my relatives as would
“Come back for it, then; I am your banker for forty pounds.” justify me in asking favours of them—but I shall advertise.”
“Mr. Rochester, I may as well mention another matter of “You shall walk up the pyramids of Egypt!” he growled. “At
business to you while I have the opportunity.”
your peril you advertise! I wish I had only offered you a sov-
“Matter of business? I am curious to hear it.”
ereign instead of ten pounds. Give me back nine pounds, Jane;
“You have as good as informed me, sir, that you are going I’ve a use for it.”
shortly to be married?”
“And so have I, sir,” I returned, putting my hands and my
“Yes; what then?”
purse behind me. “I could not spare the money on any ac-
“In that case, sir, Adele ought to go to school: I am sure you count.”
will perceive the necessity of it.”
“Little niggard!” said he, “refusing me a pecuniary request!
“To get her out of my bride’s way, who might otherwise Give me five pounds, Jane.”
walk over her rather too emphatically? There’s sense in the “Not five shillings, sir; nor five pence.”
suggestion; not a doubt of it. Adele, as you say, must go to “Just let me look at the cash.”
school; and you, of course, must march straight to—the devil?” “No, sir; you are not to be trusted.”
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