Rochester has been gone for a week, and Jane is dismayed to learn that he may choose to depart for continental Europe without returning to Thornfield—according to Mrs. Fairfax, he could be gone for more than a year. A week later, however, Mrs. Fairfax receives word that Rochester will arrive in three days with a large group of guests. While she waits, Jane continues to be amazed by the apparently normal relations the strange, self-isolated Grace Poole enjoys with the rest of the staff. Jane also overhears a conversation in which a few of 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. Rochester arrives at last, accompanied by a party of elegant and aristocratic guests. Jane is forced to join the group but spends the evening watching them from a window seat. Blanche Ingram and her mother are among the party’s members, and they treat Jane with disdain and cruelty. Jane tries to leave the party, but Rochester stops her. He grudgingly allows her to go when he sees the tears brimming in her eyes. He informs her that she must come into the drawing room every evening during his guests’ stay at Thornfield. As they part, Rochester nearly lets slip more than he intends. “Good-night, my—” he says, before biting his lip.
Jack and his father help a ship in trouble.
The central character, John Melmoth, is a scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for 150 extra years of life and spends that time searching for someone who will take over the pact for him; the novel actually takes place in the present, but this backstory is revealed through several nested stories-within-a-story that work backwards through time (usually through the Gothic trope of old books).
A biography of Sir William Rowan Hamilton.
The story of George S. Gandy’s perseverance and how he turned ridicule into nation-wide praise.
The author’s veracity. His design in publishing this work. His censure of those travellers who swerve from the truth. The author clears himself from any sinister ends in writing. An objection answered. The method of planting colonies. His native country commended. The right of the crown to those countries described by the author is justified. The difficulty of conquering them. The author takes his last leave of the reader; proposes his manner of living for the future; gives good advice, and concludes.
Dinner is served.
Chapter XIII makes us feel tense and worried that Catherine will cave in to the inconsiderate demands of James, Isabella, and John. When John lies to the Tilneys, telling them that Catherine cannot go for a walk, he confirms our opinion of him as a selfish, conceited twit.
Ahab continues to enquire about the white whale. Stubb and the crew "assist" the Bouton de Rose in disposing of a whale.
The author sets out as captain of a ship. His men conspire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land. He travels up into the country. The Yahoos, a strange sort of animal, described. The author meets two Houyhnhnms.
Hunger turns to desperation, until the men find water. Unfortunate events lead to further troubles.
William and Frances continue their married life together, with continued contact with Hunsden.
Oliver is taken to jail to await his appearance before Mr. Fang. The courtroom drama plays out while Mr. Brownlow begins to takes pity upon poor Oliver.
How the young teacher can go about finding a job as a teacher.
When Rene De Veaux’s parents die he goes to live with his uncle, who happens to be setting out on an exploration of the new world.
George encounters Seneca Doane on the train back to Zenith. George attempts to help Riesling with his legal matters, but is met with resistance from an embittered Zilla. George refuses to allow his son to transfer schools.
Pip is shocked and disappointed with the situation at home. Pip reconsiders Herbert's offer.
Two years have passed. Edward is welcomed back by his mother, although he does not regain his inheritance from Robert. Mrs. Ferrars and even John and Fanny come and visit them at Delaford. Mrs. Dashwood and her two remaining daughters spend most of their time at Delaford, both to be near Elinor, and out of the hope that Marianne might accept the Colonel.
Mrs. Westmacott convinces the admiral to join the women’s rights platform. It exhibits her use of flattery and cunning to win him over.
Aunt Betsey meets with Mr. Murdstone in order to make a decision about David.
The Professor appears from nowhere.
Walter meets Mrs. Catherick, and tries to discover the secret behind her relationship with Sir Percival.
The pattern of revenge continues.
Thoreau concludes the work by criticizing conformity in society.
Siegfried awakens a princess.