“And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Missis kindly allows you to be brought up with them. They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none: it is your place to be humble, and to try to make yourself agreeable to them.”
“What we tell you is for your good,” added Bessie, in no harsh voice, “you should try to be useful and pleasant, then, perhaps, you would have a home here; but if you become passionate and rude, Missis will send you away, I am sure.”
– Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre, Chapter 2. Miss Abbot and Bessie scold Jane and lecture her that she must not consider herself as an equal to the other children while living with the Reed family. They are rich and she is poor, she is told. Jane experiences no sense of belonging in the upper class home and is made feel a burden to Mrs. Reed, who will send her away if she doesn’t behave, she is warned.