Summary 118 - 191. "A Portrait of a Lady" by Henry James

Miss Isabel Archer, Miss Henrietta Stackpole and Ralph are preparing to start for London to see its attractions and sights. But their main goal is to communicate with native leavers. But before the departure Lord Warburton comes to Gardencourt from Lockleigh to report that he is still want to marry her, but at the moment he goes away to Scotland with his sister.

The news has been perceived with alleviation by Miss Stackpole. In this case she doesn’t see any barriers to Mr. Casper Goodwood to get married to her friend.  But, having come to Isabel, he receives her refusal and has been asked to wait in America. The meeting has been made by Henrietta who informs Mr. Goodwood each steps of Isabel.

In her turns, Henrietta has a conflict with Isabel concerning her situation about the marriage and goes away to Ralph’s friend Mr. Bantling to learn more about England and to get a foretaste of the country she is staying in.

When Ralph meets Isabel after the dialog with her follower, he gives bad news – Mr. Touchett has been ill. So he is to return to his family house in Gardencourt. She decides to bear him a company and not to enjoy London anymore.

At Touchett’s house everybody are busy, sitting at Mr. Touchett's, bed-side. Mr. Ralph Touchett asks Sir Matthew Hope, the famous English doctor, to visit his father. In this case Isabel is to be without a company all the time, except her new friend, Madame Merle. They become closer and closer day by day. Madame Merle is a very respectable woman in the whole Europe. She is waited in many famous house of London, but she prefers to stay at Touchett’s.

Mrs. Touchett is a good friend of Madame Merle. She believes that Madame will teach Isabel some methods, which help her in live. Also Ralph is eager to help his cousin to have sweetness and light in a short run. He asks the father to change the will with what the father agrees. In this case Isabel will have a half of Mr. Touchett’s wealth. It is the last wish of Mr. Touchett.