The Portrait of a Lady

During the period of Mr. Touchett’s declining health, Isabel and Madame Merle are thrown together by circumstance and form a great friendship. Indeed, “Isabel had never encountered a more agreeable and interesting figure than Madame Merle.” The young woman confides more in her older friend than she has with any other. Madame Merle also greatly enjoys their new friendship and is keen to see what Isabel makes of life. 

Isabel spends some time theorizing about Madame Merle’s character, deciding that Merle was once a passionate individual who is now not so “original” but but instead gains admiration as a sophisticated and charming woman who lives through her relationships with others.

Throughout this period, a bout of bad weather confines the sickly Ralph to his rooms. One day he watches Isabel and Madame Merle walk through the rain together, feeling both regret and reproach toward them.

Isabel continues her sincere conversations with Madame Merle. When Isabel theorizes to Merle that the older woman must have once been hurt by a person or event, Merle responds that indeed she has not always been so happy as her current self. She likens herself to a pot that has been “shockingly chipped and cracked” before being “cleverly mended.” She promises that she will one day recount her story to Isabel, but for now she wants to focus on discussing the exciting prospects that lie ahead of Isabel. Isabel is delighted by Madame Merle’s attentions and praise.

Madame Merle feels that Americans are treated unjustly in European society and cannot live naturally. She offers Ralph as an example, suggesting that he is simply “idle,” although not as idle as her friend Gilbert Osmond. Osmond is an American in Italy who is devoted to his only daughter (Pansy) but spends all of his time painting.

Merle also reveals that she feels uncomfortable staying at Gardencourt when Mr. Touchett is so unwell. She finds it hard to offer comfort to Ralph in particular, for she believes Ralph doesn’t like her and feels injured by his disfavor. Isabel fails to question Madame Merle further about this revelation, justifying her lack of actions by regarding the matter as being either too important for her to respectfully inquire further, or too insignificant for her curiosity to bother with.

During another conversation, Isabel is surprised by Madame Merle’s bitter admission that she would give a great deal to be Isabel’s age again, for “the best part [of her life] is gone, and gone for nothing.” Isabel exclaims that it is not so, for she regards Merle as a model of success. But Merle is adamant that she has failed in her desires and has no real use for the acquired talents Isabel admires so highly.

Their conversation moves on to the topic of marriage. Madame Merle does not agree with Isabel’s declaration that she does not care for her future husband’s financial means, advising that Isabel should consider marriage seriously and that a man’s prospects are an important consideration in the matter. Madame Merle has a great respect for the opportunities a good income provides.

The narrator interjects that Isabel has kept the identity of her two ardent suitors a secret from Madame Merle, although the older women is aware that Isabel has rejected at least one advantageous marriage proposal. At this time, Lord Warburton is no longer in the neighborhood, having left for Scotland with his two sisters. Merle has never met the nobleman on her previous visits and therefore has no reason to suspect his identity as one of Isabel’s suitors.

Madame Merle takes her leave from Gardencourt, citing promises to visit other friends in Europe. She tells Isabel that she is about to visit six various locations in succession, but she is sure to find no one she likes so much as her new friend Isabel.

Isabel finds herself quite lonely after Madame Merle’s departure from Gardencourt, seeing Mrs. Touchett and Ralph only at meals. Mrs. Touchett tells Isabel that the timing of her invitation to her niece to England is unfortunate. Upon Isabel’s reassurance that she is very happy to have been able to get to know Mr. Touchett, Mrs. Touchett responds that allowing Isabel the opportunity to meet her uncle was not the reason that Mrs. Touchett brought the girl to Europe.

During her now lonely existence at Gardencourt, Isabel takes a great interest in Henrietta Stackpole’s life in Europe, which she learns of via letters from her friend. The journalist’s newspaper column is not going as well as hoped, and for some strange reason an invitation to visit Lady Pensil has never arrived. However, Harriet is quite pleased by the attentions Mr. Bantling pays her. The pair have decided that Henrietta will visit Paris shortly, and she encourages Isabel to meet her there.

Less than a week after Madame Merle’s departure from Gardencourt, Isabel sits reading distractedly in the library when Ralph enters the room and informs her that Mr. Touchett has died. She exclaims in anguish and holds out her hands to him.