Yes, sir, but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now.
Chapter 21 · Jane Eyre
Context
Jane responds to Rochester's objection by explaining that, despite her aunt's past mistreatment, Mrs. Reed's current vulnerability and explicit wish to see her create a moral obligation Jane cannot ignore.
Analysis
Jane's syntax mirrors Rochester's structure—'Yes, sir, but...'—then pivots with two temporal contrasts: 'long ago' versus 'now,' and 'very different' circumstances. The phrase 'I could not be easy to neglect her wishes' centers Jane's own conscience as the authority ('I could not be easy'), quietly asserting that her inner sense of rightness outweighs both Rochester's advice and past injuries. This is Jane's moral autonomy in miniature.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that Jane's moral decisions are self-authorizing—she doesn't appeal to Rochester's approval or societal norms but to her own unease, showing how her Christianity is internalized into personal integrity rather than external obedience.