“Come to my side, Jane, and let us explain and understand one another.”
“I will never again come to your side: I am torn away now, and cannot return.”
“But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry.”
I was silent: I thought he mocked me.
“Come, Jane – come hither.”
“Your bride stands between us.”
He rose, and with a stride reached me.
“My bride is here,” he said, again drawing me to him, “because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?”
– Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. When Mr. Rochester proposes to Jane, she is full of doubt that a man of his social stature and wealth would want to marry a poor governess like her. She also thinks that Rochester is engaged to Miss Ingram. Rochester assures Jane of his feelings for her, saying that she is his equal and the one he wants for a bride. While Rochester loves Jane, his love is imperfect. For he doesn’t have the courage to tell Jane that he already has a wife – the mad Bertha Mason. So there is unintentional irony when Jane declares that “your bride stands between us,” mistakingly believing this to be Miss Ingram.