Chapter 14
The Art of Honest Conversation

For several subsequent days I saw little of Mr. Rochester. In the mornings he seemed much engaged with business, and, in the afternoon, gentlemen from Millcote or the neighbourhood called, and sometimes stayed to dine with him. When his sprain was well enough to admit of horse exercise, he rode out a good deal; probably to return these visits, as he generally did not come back till late at night. During this interval, even Adèle was seldom sent for to his presence, and all my acquaintance with h After several days of limited interaction, Jane encounters Mr. Rochester in a more relaxed, after-dinner mood when Adèle receives her long-awaited box of gifts from Paris. Rochester invites Jane to sit by the fire while Mrs. Fairfax entertains Adèle, creating an intimate setting for conversation. The chapter's pivotal moment occurs when Rochester asks Jane if she thinks him handsome, and she responds with startling honesty: 'No, sir.' This blunt reply surprises Rochester, who notes Jane's unusual combination of quiet demeanor and sharp, direct responses. Their conversation reveals Rochester's complex character—he acknowledges his lack of conventional benevolence while displaying both vulnerability and arrogance. Jane's refusal to flatter or dissemble establishes her as Rochester's intellectual equal, someone who will engage with him authentically rather than deferentially. The chapter demonstrates how their relationship transcends typical employer-employee dynamics, built on mutual respect for honest discourse rather than social pleasantries. This scene foreshadows the deeper emotional and intellectual connection that will develop between them, grounded in Jane's...