labour, not for love

[lotesse]

“Oh, St. John!” I cried, “have some mercy!”

I appealed to one who, in the discharge of what he believed his duty, knew neither mercy nor remorse. He continued—

“God and nature intended you for a missionary’s wife. It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love. A missionary’s wife you must—shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you—not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service.”

-Jane Eyre

Comments

[oursin]

Oh, St John, you silver-tongued smoothy, you.

[wordweaverlynn]

*sporfle*

[lotesse]

Right? What woman could resist that?

[amelia-petkova.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

[lotesse]

IKR? But I've always found that line - "labour not love" - curiously resonant. She names something real there.