The Portrait of a Lady

While Ralph dislikes Gilbert, he admits to himself that the latter is an excellent companion given his good humor and sociable manner in Rome. Gilbert thinks about how his happiness is related to his expected success with Isabel. Mrs. Touchett sends a telegram that she is planning to leave for Bellagio and will take Isabel with her if she doesn’t dawdle in Rome. Isabel prepares to leave.

She tells Gilbert, and he says that he will stay in Rome a little longer, so they may not see each other for a while. He tells her he is in love with her. He also says he doesn’t have much to offer her, and refrains from actually proposing. He asks her to visit Pansy when she returns to Florence. Although Isabel has been expecting this and liking Gilbert increasingly during their trip, she is upset by his declaration.

Isabel returns to Florence. She mentions her plan to visit Pansy to Madame Merle, who tries to dissuade her. Isabel wonders why and makes a mental note to return to the question. Isabel finds Pansy charming and pure, but fragile and lacking will.

A year passes, in which Isabel travels widely. Lily and her family have also visited Isabel, and her sister wondered about the lack of social conquests Isabel had made. Henrietta has also returned to America on the instruction of the Interviewer, and Ralph has gone to spend the winter in Corfu. Isabel and Madame Merle have then traveled to Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. Isabel has gotten to know Madame Merle better and has experienced a glimmer of suspicion about her friend’s character and has an “element of foreboding” about her (323). Isabel and Madame Merle then returned to Rome. Gilbert joined them, and they spent three weeks together. Isabel then decided to return to Florence, where Ralph was also expected to arrive soon.

Caspar comes to visit Isabel after her return to Florence. He has traveled quickly after receiving a letter from Isabel, telling him she has agreed to marry Gilbert. Caspar tells her he has come to see her one more time before she is married. Caspar reminds Isabel about her earlier conviction that she would never marry, and says he came partly to be sure it was true and for her to explain. She doesn’t, but she assures him she isn’t pregnant. After he leaves the room, she bursts into tears.

Isabel tells Mrs. Touchett about her engagement. Her aunt responds by saying that Mr. Osmond should be grateful to Madame Merle for facilitating it. Mrs. Touchett also says Isabel will bring everything to the partnership, as Gilbert has “no money […] no name […] no importance” (333).

Ralph arrives, and while Mrs. Touchett tells him about Isabel’s engagement, he doesn’t say anything to her, though upset and appalled about being wrong about her. He feels that “to attempt to reclaim her was permissible only if the attempt should succeed” (337) and continues in silence.

Ralph and Isabel discuss her engagement. He apologizes for not having congratulated her and notes that he has been thinking about what to say. He tells her that she is the last person he “expected to see caught” (340), and he suggests that Isabel must have changed significantly from her focus on her freedom. He says he thinks Gilbert is narrow, selfish, and takes himself too seriously in addition to lacking importance. Ralph tells Isabel he feels this way because he loves her, but without hope or intention.

Gilbert references the fact that Isabel’s family is unhappy about their engagement. Though she hasn’t told him what Mrs. Touchett and Ralph said, he deduces that they’re unhappy with the difference in their fortunes. Pansy is happy about the engagement when her father tells her. At Countess Gemini’s house, Pansy tells Isabel that she will be a good companion for her father because they are both quiet and serious.

The Countess does not congratulate Isabel, saying that she is pleased for her brother’s sake (and that of the family and herself), but not for Isabel.