The Portrait of a Lady

Ralph decides to return to England. Henrietta offers to accompany him, as does Caspar (the latter on Isabel’s request). Ralph and Isabel say goodbye tenderly. Caspar goes to the Osmonds’ for the Thursday night dinner and converses with Gilbert. He is annoyed at Gilbert’s pretense about his marital happiness. He waits until the others leave in order to speak to Isabel. He tells her he knows he doesn’t have a right to ask, but he loves her and wants to know whether she is happy or unhappy. She answers obliquely in favor of unhappiness, suggesting that he may pity her a little.

Madame Merle expresses disappointment about Pansy’s lack of proposal from Warburton and Isabel’s role in it. Isabel becomes increasingly suspicious about Madame Merle’s role in her own destiny. Madame Merle asks Isabel whether she dissuaded Warburton. Isabel finally learns that Madame Merle was an influence in her marriage. Isabel goes for a drive by herself. In the Roman Campagna, she thinks about Madame Merle’s interest in her after her inheritance, and that she benefitted by ensuring Isabel’s wealth was connected to an intimate friend of hers.

Gilbert goes to Madame Merle, and they argue. She tells him he has succeeded in making his wife afraid of him, and comments on their collective immorality: “How do bad people end? […] You have made me as bad as yourself” (515-16). He blames her for his marriage as well.

Isabel, Countess Gemini, and Pansy visit the Coliseum. Edward is there as well and speaks to Isabel. He tells her he has sold some of his valuable possessions so that he will be more acceptable to Mr. Osmond. Isabel tells him he is still unlikely to succeed.

A week later, Pansy announces that she is about to leave for the convent, on Gilbert’s arrangement. Isabel is chilled by his decision, and Countess Gemini tells Gilbert he should just be honest that he wants to keep Pansy out of Edward’s way.

Isabel receives a telegram from Mrs. Touchett that Ralph is dying and would like to see her. She tells Gilbert she is going to England. He tells her he doesn’t see why she should and won’t like it if she does, and that it would be calculated opposition to him. He tells her he takes their marriage seriously, and she is affected by his appeal. She says that she supposes if she goes to England he won’t expect her to come back. He is appalled by this suggestion. Isabel struggles with her sense of duty.

The Countess comes to speak with her, and tells Isabel that Pansy isn’t Gilbert’s first wife’s daughter, but the product of an affair with Madame Merle. The Countess confirms that Madame Merle wanted Isabel to marry Gilbert because of her money and the belief that she would treat Pansy well. Isabel declares again that she must see Ralph.

Isabel prepares to leave for England and goes to see Pansy at the convent on her way. She is surprised to find Madame Merle there as well. They speak, and Isabel realizes that the other woman “had lost her pluck and saw before her the phantom of exposure” (545), though she maintains conversation well.

Isabel tells Pansy she is leaving for England. Pansy is upset and says she wants to leave the convent but declines to go with Isabel without her father’s permission when her stepmother asks. Isabel leaves but promises not to desert Pansy. Madame Merle has waited for Isabel and tells her about Ralph’s role in encouraging his father to leave her the inheritance.

Isabel arrives in London, where she is met by Henrietta and Mr. Bantling. Bantling tells her he has received a telegram that Ralph has been “quiet and easy” (536) this afternoon, so she can wait until the next day to see him. Henrietta takes Isabel back to her rooms in London and announces her plans to marry Mr. Bantling and live in London.

Isabel arrives at Gardencourt. Mrs. Touchett tells her Lord Warburton is engaged and asks Isabel if she ever regrets not marrying him. She says no. Mrs. Touchett asks if Isabel still likes Madame Merle, and she replies that she doesn’t as she once did.

Isabel sits by Ralph’s bedside until he has the energy to speak. She tells him she knows what he did for her and that she has never been what she should be. He tells her he believes he ruined her by giving her the fortune. He asks if Gilbert was difficult about her coming to England, and she says he was, and that she doesn’t know if she’ll go back to him. He tells her she has been adored, and she addresses him as “brother.”

Isabel wakes in the early morning and sees a “vague, hovering figure” (570) and thinks about the ghost Ralph told her about on her first night at Gardencourt. She is certain Ralph has died, and she goes to comfort Mrs. Touchett.

Lord Warburton, Henrietta, Mr. Bantling, and Caspar Goodwood all attend Ralph’s funeral. Isabel stays at Gardencourt, unsure of what to do about her marriage and returning to Rome. Mrs. Touchett tells Isabel about Ralph’s will, which includes personal bequests, like giving his library to Henrietta for her service to literature.

Lord Warburton comes to Gardencourt and reminds Isabel of her earlier promise to visit Lockleigh. He leaves, and she wishes him every happiness. She sits on the bench and remembers that it is the spot where she’d received a letter from Caspar, then Lord Warburton’s marriage proposal. Caspar appears and says he wants to speak with her. He is agitated and says he can help her. Caspar tells Isabel that Ralph’s last words to him were, “Do everything you can for her; do everything she’ll let you” (578). Caspar tells Isabel he sees she is miserable and alone and begs her to turn to him. He tells her leaving Gilbert to come to England was the significant step, and the next one would be easy.

Isabel argues, telling him to go away, but feels that “to let him take her in his arms would be the next best thing to her dying” (581). He kisses her. When they break apart, she runs wordlessly to the house. Two days later, he goes to London to see Henrietta, hoping to find Isabel there. Henrietta tells Caspar that Isabel has left for Rome.