a man of power and a woman of service who works for him.
By the end of their meeting, however, he has become aware of the fact that she works for him, but he does not let her know that, obviously feeling that knowledge is power. Perhaps he is somewhat caught off guard by the message under the surface of their meeting---he is dependent on her even then. He has hurt himself falling off his horse and needs her help physically (Bronte 110).
Although he needs, asks for and accepts her help, he remains in a controlling position in this first meeting, giving her orders: "Now make haste with the letter to Hay, and return as fast as you can" (Bronte 113). Jane accepts these orders without thought, although she does not yet know that he is her employer. She is in an inferior position, in class and gender, and she accepts this inferior status. By the end of the book, of course, she will have
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