In this chapter, Jane travels to Thornfield Manor, and upon arriving, meets Mrs. Fairfax. She is shown about the house, and learns a bit about her employer, Mr. Rochester, and the young girl she will tutor, Adele.
After Mrs. Fairfax shows her around, she tells Jane about Mr. Rochester's family, and how sometimes they have been known to be eccentric and sometimes violent. Jane then hears an eerie and suspicious cackle echo through the house. When she asks what it is, Mrs. Fairfax summons a girl named Grace, tells her to be quiet and remember her duties, and then excuses her. Mrs. Fairfax explains to Jane that she is a sometimes unstable seamstress who lives in the house.
My first thought upon reading that is: "What the--?!"
- Why on earth would you hire someone known to be unstable? And if you didn't know she was unstable when you hired her, why not fire her once you found out? I just don't get it. 0.o
In chapter twelve, we learn that Jane finds life at Thornfield pleasant, but is often restless and will wander the topmost floor of the house to relieve her pent-up energy. (We will come back to this later).
One evening, a few months after she arrives at Thornfield, she is outside watching the moon rise when she spots a horse galloping toward her. (For some reason, this calls to mind a scary story Bessie used to tell her of a spirit that would scare off travelers...) Jane then realizes that there is a man riding the horse, and he is accompanied by a dog.
After the horse passes her, it slips on a patch of ice, and the rider is thrown to the ground. Jane helps him up, and introduces herself to him. She notes his handsome features, and he limps off toward the house. When Jane sees Mrs. Fairfax a bit later, she asks about the dog sitting in the room with her, and then learns that the man thrown from his horse was Mr. Rochester.
That's the end of chapter twelve...I honestly didn't have many questions or thoughts about this chapter, except the fact that it is worth mentioning how devilishly handsome Mr. Rochester is. :3
Chapter Thirteen
This chapter starts out the on the morning after Mr. Rochester (<3 *swoon*) returns home. He invites Jane and Adele to tea, and Jane finds him to be rather staunch (boo hoo). Even though he is rigid and cold towards Jane and Adele, he finds that he rather enjoys Jane's paintings, and asks to see more of them. Jane later mentions this to Mrs. Fairfax, who, in turn, explains to Jane that he has had a rough life. He was the black sheep of the family for a long time, and when his father died, his older brother inherited Thornfield. However, nine years previously, Mr. Rochester's older brother died, so the manor was handed down to him instead.
At first, upon reading this chapter, I find that I am put out by Mr. Rochester's manners, until I read what Mrs. Fairfax says. I know a lot about what it's like to be a black sheep in the family, so I pity Mr. Rochester.
- Why would Mr. Rochester be an outcast in his own family?
- Was he given Thornfield as a last resort, because no one else could keep it?
- If so, is Mr. Rochester bitter about his lot in life?
