The Portrait of a Lady

Near the end of February, Ralph decides it is time for him to return to England. He knows that his death is near, and he wants to pass away at his beloved home, Gardencourt. Henrietta offers to accompany him and care for him, as does Goodwood per his previous promise to Isabel. The businessman also believes he bores Isabel in Rome; he is also tired of seeing Isabel pretend to be happy in her marriage to Osmond.

Before leaving, Henrietta visits the Countess Gemini once more. The journalist tells the Countess that she was wrong in her belief that Isabel and Lord Warburton were enjoying an affair, with Warburton actually courting Pansy for a period of time. The Countess highlights that fact that no proposal from Warburton to Pansy eventuated.

Henrietta urges Isabel to leave Osmond before their relationship grows yet more dire. Isabel insists that she is confident in her own strength of identity and in weathering the ills of her husband.

When Isabel visits Ralph before his departure for England, she admits that she is sometimes afraid of herself, but never afraid of Osmond. Her admission of unhappiness is accompanied by the confession that Ralph is her best friend and that she adores him. He responds that Isabel has given him life for far longer than he dared to hope.

Isabel instructs Ralph to send for her if he desires her company at Gardencourt. Ralph is concerned that Osmond will not allow such travel, but she promises she will come in spite of Osmond’s likely objections.

Goodwood visits Isabel at her home, where Osmond talks to him about the increased harmony that Goodwood’s presence has afforded his marriage. Osmond is exceedingly more personal in his conversation than usual, although Goodwood does not directly recognize it. Osmond exaggerates his and Isabel’s solidarity and claims that he and Isabel can now view their future more clearly together. Osmond’s comments confuse and anger Goodwood, but he reminds himself that Isabel’s relationship with her husband is none of his business.

Osmond also paints Goodwood as the true version of a modern man, and suggests that he find purpose in life by finding a wife—“You ought to marry, then you’d have plenty to do!”

Having waited some time so see Isabel privately, Goodwood is able to tell her that he does not want to leave her in Rome. He is concerned about Osmond’s oppressive character, despite Osmond having treated him elegantly while Goodwood has been in Rome. The narrator suggests that Goodwood goes so far as to wish Osmond dead, although Goodwood does not voice this desire aloud. Goodwood also asks Isabel if she is genuinely happy, for she conceals her true feelings from all of her family and friends. Overall, the man is frustrated by his inability to know the truth of Isabel’s situation, declaring “I can’t understand, I can’t penetrate you!” He is sure that she is hiding something from him.

Goodwood is quite honest when he also reveals that he still loves Isabel. What’s more, he asks her leave to pity her. He thinks that at least by pitying Isabel, he is still dedicating his life to her. Isabel hides almost her entire face behind her fan, telling Goodwood that he has behaved so well in her company, but is now almost spoiling it. She suggests that Goodwood cannot dedicate his life to pitying her, but that he might think of Isabel from time to time. Isabel then returns to the company of the Countess Gemini.