CHAPTER XIV 170
claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience."
" Humph! Promptly spoken. But I won ' t allow that, seeing that it would never suit my case, as I have made an indifferent, not to say a bad, use of both advantages. Leaving superiority out of the question, then, you must still agree to receive my orders now and then, without being piqued or hurt by the tone of command. Will you?"
I smiled: I thought to myself Mr. Rochester IS peculiar-- he seems to forget that he pays me 30 pounds per annum for receiving his orders.
" The smile is very well," said he, catching instantly the passing expression; " but speak too."
" I was thinking, sir, that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders."
" Paid subordinates! What! you are my paid subordinate, are you? Oh yes, I had forgotten the salary! Well then, on that mercenary ground, will you agree to let me hector a little?"
" No, sir, not on that ground; but, on the ground that you did forget it, and that you care whether or not a dependent is comfortable in his dependency, I agree heartily."
" And will you consent to dispense with a great many conventional forms and phrases, without thinking that the omission arises from insolence?"
" I am sure, sir, I should never mistake informality for insolence: one I rather like, the other nothing free-born would submit to, even for a salary."
" Humbug! Most things free-born will submit to anything for a salary; therefore, keep to yourself, and don ' t venture on generalities of which you are intensely ignorant. However, I mentally shake hands with you for your