Chapters Nineteen through Twenty-Five

In chapter nineteen (in a bit of a follow up from chapter eighteen), there is a gypsy at the party that Mr. Rochester is hosting for his guests. Ms. Ingram had previously gone in to see the gypsy to get her fortune told, and when she came out, she was in a crappy mood. Jane soon goes in to see the gypsy after that, and is entranced by what she hears. She learns that the gypsy told Ms. Ingram that Mr. Rochester wasn't nearly as wealthy as he appeared, and that was why she was in such a bad mood.
Soon after this, the gypsy's voice gets deeper and deeper, until Jane realizes that it is Mr. Rochester in disguise. (0.o)

• Why would Mr. Rochester want to disguise himself as a gypsy in order to fool Ms. Ingram?

Jane chastises Mr. Rochester for fooling everyone, and Mr. Mason arrives at Thornfield.

In chapter twenty, after all of the guests have gone home, a loud cry for help wakes everyone in the house. Jane rushes into the hall, where Mr. Rochester is reassuring everyone that it was merely a servant having a bad dream. Everyone goes back to bed, but Mr. Rochester comes into Jane's room shortly afterward to ask for her help. It is then revealed that Mr. Mason had been stabbed in the arm. Mr. Rochester, Jane, and a doctor help to get Mr. Mason cleaned up and his wound cared for.
After Mr. Mason is asleep again, Jane and Mr. Rochester go for a walk in the orchard. Mr Rochester asks Jane if ("hypothetically") had a man had lived a life of impurity in his younger years, it would be possible to gain redemption by marrying a woman of higher worth than he. Jane replies that it would be up to the man to seek redemption from God and not another person (most likely realizing that Mr. Rochester is referring to himself). Mr. Rochester runs off quickly after asking if he married Ms. Ingram, would his sins be forgiven.

• As readers, we know the real Ms. Ingram. If Mr. Rochester knew her the same way, would he believe that marrying her would absolve him of his mistakes in younger years?

In chapter twenty-one, Jane reunites with her previous family, the Reeds. She learned that John had committed suicide, so she returned to Gateshead, where she tried to patch things up with Mrs. Reed (who had suffered from a stroke and was very near death). Mrs. Reed, being as stubborn as ever, refused to reconcile. A little bit later, she gives Jane a letter that she had received three years previous. It was from Jane's uncle, John Eyre. In the letter, he expressed a desire to adopt Jane and bequeath to her his fortune (the one that he had found in his travels. Bessie told Jane about John Eyre just before she left for Thornfield). Jane learns that Mrs. Reed hadn't forwarded the letter out of spite for Jane. Jane has grown a lot since leaving Gateshead, and forgives Mrs. Reed once more, still trying to patch things up with her. Mrs. Reed is as stubborn as ever, and she dies at midnight.

• Even after all this time, why would Mrs. Reed STILL hate Jane so much?
• Why did John commit suicide?
• What do you think Jane will do with the information she received in the letter from John Eyre?

In chapter twenty-two, Jane is still at Gateshead (where she remains for one month) because her two cousins, Georgiana and Eliza don't get along, and Georgiana is afraid to be alone with Eliza. Georgiana eventually moves in with an uncle in London, and Eliza (who has become quite plain) joins a convent in France. This frees Jane up to leave for Thornfield once more. As Jane heads toward home, she contemplates the news Mrs. Fairfax gave her (that all of the guests have left and that Mr. Rochester is buying a new carriage -- a sure sign that he is going to marry Ms. Ingram) and worries about what she will do when she sees Mr. Rochester again. When Jane arrives at the carriage station in Millcote (close to Thornfield) she happens to see Mr. Rochester there. He inquires as to why Jane has been away for so long, and she tells him of her aunt's death. Jane sees the new carriage Mr. Rochester has bought, for Mr. Rochester demands that she tell him whether it wills suit the new Mrs. Rochester perfectly (????). Jane then expresses to Mr. Rochester that she is glad to be back at Thornfield, and with Mr. Rochester, for she feels that it is her home....Back at the manor everyone greets Jane warmly.

• Who do you think Mr. Rochester refers to when he says "Mrs. Rochester"?

In chapter twenty-three, things get really juicy. :3
Jane has just spent the last two weeks in utter bliss. Everything is perfect in her life. One evening, Mr. Rochester invites her to walk around the gardens with him, and she accepts. He tells her about a governess position he knows of that is in Ireland, but Jane is extremely reluctant to take a job so far away from Thornfield. She finally decides she can't hold it in any longer, and confesses to Mr. Rochester that she loves him. (D'awww!!!) He then surprises her by proposing. <3!
She accepts, and the rush into the house (because it has started raining). As Mr. Rochester helps Jane off with her coat, he takes the opportunity to kiss her. Mrs. Fairfax sees this, and is clearly surprised.
BEST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK, EVER!
Here is a song to express my delight. Sorry it is always Kelly Clarkson. :)

In chapter twenty-four, Jane and Mr. Rochester are preparing for their wedding, and it's not going well at all. While Jane is incredibly happy, she is also unsure of whether the wedding will even happen, mostly because of their difference in class. Jane becomes very unsettled when she hears Mr. Rochester call her "Jane Rochester", and she has an even harder time getting past their differences. In an effort to even things out a bit, Jane writes to her Uncle John, trying to determine that if he made her his heir, perhaps she'd be more worthy of Mr. Rochester.
I am thoroughly bummed at this point in the book that things aren't going well at all. :(

• Why do you think things are going poorly?
• Why is Jane so bothered by the differences between her and Mr. Rochester?

In chapter twenty-five, it is the night before Jane and Mr. Rochester are to get married. Mr. Rochester had been gone from Thornfield for a little while, and when he returns Jane recounts a very strange event that happened while he was away: The previous night, Jane's wedding dress and expensive veil arrived. While Jane was asleep, she had a terrifying dream (for full details, read the book). When she awoke, she heard a rustling in her closet, so she went to find out what it was. She saw a savage-looking woman in there, and watched the woman tear her veil in two.
Mr. Rochester says it was just Grace Poole, and that Jane may have imagined some of it on account of the dream she had. Jane is not persuaded fully, so Mr. Rochester promises that he will explain everything after they have been married for one year and one day. Jane then goes to bed in the same room as Adele, for she is sad that she will soon leave the young girl.

• Do you think Mr. Rochester is telling the truth?
• What do you think he will tell Jane in one year and one day?

That's all for this segment! Keep up for the last two!