Jane Eyre - Chapters 17 - 23

In chapter 17 Rochesterhas been gone for a week, and he may go to Europe without returning to Thornfield for a year. Mrs. Fairfax finds out that Rochester will arrive in three days with guests. Jane is amazed by how Grace Poole gets on with everyone even though she is very wierd. Jane hears the servants discuss Grace’s high pay, and Jane is certain that she doesn’t know the entire truth about Grace Poole’s role at Thornfield. When Rochester arrives, with a group of important guests. Jane is forced to join the group but spends the evening watching them from a window seat. A woman called Blanche Ingram and her mother are among the party’s members, and they treat Jane badly. Jane tries to leave the party, but Rochester stops her. He allows her to go when he sees that she is upset. He tells her that she must come into the drawing room every evening whilst his guests are at Thornfield. As Jane leaves, Rochester almost called Jane his darling. In Chapter 18 The guests are still at Thornfield. Rochester and Blanche are in the same team when they play charades. Jane watches them and believes that they will be married soon though they do not seem to love one another. Blanche wants Rochesters wealth, and he wants her beauty. A strange man named Mr. Mason arrives at Thornfield. Jane dislikes him because he is wierd, but she learns from him that Rochester once lived in the West Indies, as he himself had. A gypsy comes to Thornfield to tell the guests’ fortunes. Blanche goes first, and when she returns from her talk she looks disappointed.
In Chapter 19 Jane goes in to the library to have her fortune read, and is interested by the old woman’s speech. The gypsy seems to know a lot about Jane. She says that she told Blanche that Rochester was not as wealthy as he seemed. That was why Blanche was dissappointed. Jane realizes that the gypsy is Rochester in disguise. Jane is angry at Rochester for tricking her. When Rochester learns that Mr. Mason has arrived, he looks troubled.
In Chapter 20 Jane hears a cry for help. She goes into the hall and Rochester says that a servant has had a nightmare. After everyone goes to bed, Rochester knocks on Jane’s door and tells her that he needs her help and asks whether she is scared of blood. Mr. Mason, has been stabbed in the arm. Rochester asks Jane to fix the cut and then leaves, telling Mason and Jane not to speak to each other. In the silence. Rochester returns with a surgeon, and the men fix Mason’s wound and Jane is told to find a potion downstairs. Mason is given some by rochester saying that it will help him. Once Mason is gone, Jane and Rochester go to the orchard, and Rochester tells Jane a story. Rochester asks Jane wheter marrying Blanche would be right.
In Chapter 21 Jane keeps having dreams involving babies. She learns that her John Reed has committed suicide, and that Mrs. Reed, has had a stroke and is near death. Jane goes to Gateshead, where she is reunited with Bessie. She also sees Eliza and Georgina. Eliza is plain and wants to enter a convent, while Georgiana beautiful. the two sisters don't get along. Jane tries to patch things up with Mrs. Reed, but Mrs reed hates Jane still. Mrs. Reed gives Jane a letter from her father’s brother,John Eyre. He says that he wishes to adopt Jane and give her his fortune. The letter is three years old and Mrs. Reed did not give it to Jane when she received it. Jane still tries to get on with Mrs. Reed but Mrs. Reed is not interested, at midnight, she dies.
In Chapter 22 Jane stays at Gateshead for a month because Georgina dosent want to be left alone with Eliza. Georgiana goes to London to live with her uncle, and Eliza joins a convent in France. Eliza eventually becomes the Mother Superior of her convent, and Georgiana marries a wealthy man. At Gateshead, Jane receives a letter from Mrs. Fairfax, which says that Rochester’s guests have gone and Rochester has gone to London to buy a new carriage (possibly because he wants to marry Blanche.) As Jane goes to Thornfield, she is nervous about seeing Rochester again. Jane sees Rochester at Milcotte station and he asks her why she has stayed away from Thornfield so long. Rochester asks Jane whether she has heard about his new carriage. Jane Tells Rochester’s that she loves being with him. Mrs. Fairfax, Adele and the servants greet Jane warmly when she gets to the Manor.
In Chapter 23 Jane encounters Rochester in the gardens. He walks with her proposes to her. Jane accepts. She thinks he is teasing her, but he says he only said he may marry Blanche make Jane jealous. A storm breaks, and the engaged couple inside. Rochester helps Jane out of her coat, kisses her. Jane looks up to see Mrs. Fairfax watching. That night, a bolt of lightning splits the chestnut tree where Rochester and Jane had been sitting.