n　unequal　to　maintain；　even　externally。

Chapter　17

A　week　passed；　and　no　news　arrived　of　Mr。　Rochester：　ten　days；　and　still　he　did　not　e。　Mrs。　Fairfax　said　she　should　not　be　surprised　if　he　were　to　go　straight　from　the　Leas　to　London；　and　thence　to　the　Continent；　and　not　show　his　face　again　at　Thornfield　for　a　year　to　e；　he　had　not　unfrequently　quitted　it　in　a　manner　quite　as　abrupt　and　unexpected。　When　I　heard　this；　I　was　beginning　to　feel　a　strange　chill　and　failing　at　the　heart。　I　was　actually　permitting　myself　to　experience　a　sickening　sense　of　disappointment；　but　rallying　my　wits；　and　recollecting　my　principles；　I　at　once　called　my　sensations　to　order；　and　it　was　wonderful　how　I　got　over　the　temporary　blunder—how　I　cleared　up　the　mistake　of　supposing　Mr。　Rochester’s　movements　a　matter　in　which　I　had　any　cause　to　take　a　vital　interest。　Not　that　I　humbled　myself　by　a　slavish　notion　of　inferiority：　on　the　contrary；　I　just　said—

“You　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　master　of　Thornfield；　further　than　to　receive　the　salary　he　gives　you　for　teaching　his　protégée；　and　to　be　grateful　for　such　respectful　and　kind　treatment　as；　if　you　do　your　duty；　you　have　a　right　to　expect　at　his　hands。　Be　sure　that　is　the　only　tie　he　seriously　acknowledges　between　you　and　him；　so　don’t　make　him　the　object　of　your　fine　feelings；　your　raptures；　agonies；　and　so　forth。　He　is　not　of　your　order：　keep　to　your　caste；　and　be　too　self…respecting　to　lavish　the　love　of　the　whole　heart；　soul