The last few chapters didn't appeal to me a much as previous ones, but I thought the very end of chapter 31 was interesting. I think Bronte used the brief conversation between Mr. Rivers and Rosamond Oliver as a sort of mirror for Jane about her own relationship with Rochester. Mr. Rivers is described a lot like Rochester and talks like him with his fancy sermon like talks. But I think in this example he plays the role of Jane, scared of love. He coldly rejects Rosamond though it's clear it kills him to do it. The "fire" in his eyes is also like her, as is his lower social position. As he walks firmly away, he doesn't look back, but Rosamond does twice, fitting with their roles.
I have a very strong hunch that the Rivers' uncle is also Jane's uncle, and she was the one who received his fortune. It is left to "one other person, not more closely related than we" (Jane is also his niece), the uncle is childless and had already offered to leave his fortune to her.
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You and Josh seem to be thinking along the same lines (take a minute to check out my comment to his post). As for the rest, it's very astute of you to pick up on the parallels between the St. John / Miss Oliver relationship and Jane's own with Rochester. Does that mean that these two (St. John and Miss O.) are doomed as well? I wonder.
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