I have told you, reader, that I had learnt to love Mr. Rochester: I could not unlove him now, merely because I found that he had ceased to notice me--because I might pass hours in his presence, and he would never once turn his eyes in my direction--because I saw all his attentions appropriated by a great lady, who scorned to touch me with the hem of her robes as she passed; who, if ever her dark and imperious eye fell on me by chance, would withdraw it instantly as from an object too mean to merit observation.
Non potevo imporre silenzio a questo sentimento soltanto perché il signor Rochester non badava a me, perché poteva stare ore e ore senza volger gli occhi dalla mia parte, perché vedeva tutta la sua attenzione attratta da una gran dama, che non avrebbe voluto sfiorarmi neppur con il lembo del suo vestito, che posando per caso il suo sguardo su di me, lo volgeva subito altrove con sprezzo.