The house cleared, I shut myself in, fastened the bolt that none might intrude, and proceeded – not to weep, not to mourn, I was yet too calm for that, but – mechanically to take off the wedding dress and replace it by the stuff gown I had worn yesterday, as I thought, for the last time.
– Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre, Chapter 26. After having her heart broken at the altar and learning that Mr. Rochester has a wife who is mad, Jane calmly takes off her wedding dress. She metaphorically shuts herself in, closing down her emotions. The word “mechanically” emphasizes her machine-like, emotionless response to her happiness being undone. Jane will sacrifice happiness with Rochester rather than her moral principles.