p. 458 – 544 Summary “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James (The book is over)

Mr. Ralph Touchett and Miss Henrietta Stacpole become friend, as they se each other very often. Henrietta offers him to guide him to England, because his health is getting worse day by day. Also Mr. Caspar Goodwood is eager to do the same with the sick person. The Boston’s friend promises Isabel to keep her cousin.

 

By the way, Caspar believes that Isabel’s request is to escape from him. Before the departure Mr. Goodwood makes a declaration of love for Miss Osmond. Miss Stacpole also wants to marry both Americans. She declares Isabel to go away from her husband – Mr. Gilbert Osmond. At the same time the reporter doesn’t think that Pency will get married. Though Lord Warburton is a good party, but the little girls strings align with her stepmother.

Madame Merle is a supporter of Gilbert. Her relationship with Miss Osmond becomes colder. Gilbert has married Isable because of her money. He is blamed by Madame Merle that he has spoiled her.

The Countess Gemeni visits the Osmodns. She was waiting for the invitation for a long time. Amy (this is the name of the Countess Gemeni) and Isable are going to see ancient sights of Rome. While Pancy and her aunt are claiming to Coliseum Miss Osmond meets Mr. Edward Rossier. He reports that he becomes wealthier, because he has made an auction in Paris and sold there all his things. He receives about 50 000 $, and now he is ready to marry Pency, who suffers from their separation.

But the father doesn’t want that man to get married on his daughter. That’s why Mr. Gilbert Osmond is thinking to send his daughter to the convent. Gilbert supposes that Pency is tired from a society and she needs time to be alone to take thought. The Countess Gemeni believes that her brother is going to do, as he wants to limit Isabel’s attention to Pency and not to allow the daughter marries on Mr. Rossier, who impresses Amy greatly.

Mrs. Touchett sends a telegram which reports that Ralph is dying. He asks Isabel to come to Gardenkort. It’s Henrietta’s praise that they arrive to England and finally Ralph falls ill. Mr. Osmond doesn’t believe the news, from his point of view the cousin is always near a cemetery. The husband doesn’t let her go.

Amy needs to win a battle against Gilbert. She reports that her first daughter-in-law doesn’t have any children: Pancy has appeared immediately after her death. Mr. Osmond makes up a myth that the wife has died during the childbirth, but, truly speaking he has betrayed his first wife. But he hasn’t married on his lover, as she is poor. Her name is Madame Merle.

Isabel decides to go. Before the departure she is going to visit Pancy. The convent is a prison for Miss Archer. There she meets Madame Merle who opens her a secret - Ralph has asked his father to make Isable wealthy. Isable doesn’t want to see her any more. Miss Osmond promises to come back as soon as possible and to take Pancy away.

Miss Stackpole meets Isabel in Paris because Isabel asks her to do it. Henrietta is going to marry Mr. Bantling, whose sister – Lady Penzel – sends an invitation to her asking to come. Henrietta has been waiting for it for five years. Isabel can’t go to Gardencourt immediately. She has to stay at Miss Stacpole apartments.

The day Miss Archer comes to Ralph’s house is memorable. For our heroу seems there are not any changes in the house. Ralph’s mother – Mrs. Touchett becomes older. She wants to send some questions to her: does she feel sorry not to marry Lord Warburton and does she still like Madame Merle. Her answers are negative. By the way Lord Warburton is going to be a husband of Lady Flora, who is a representative of a very famous family in England.

Ralph can talk with her only on her 3^rd day of her presence. He is sure that, having given her money, he destroys her life. But she can’t take his words. She loves him very much, as a cousin. He died finally and that evening Mr. Caspar Goodwood tries to make her wife last time. He kisses her and this kiss is a symbol of destroy of all her life, which is made by Gilbert.

Other day, when Caspar wants to see his beloved he comes to Gardencourt, but Isabel isn’t there. Then a Boston’s gentleman goes to Miss Stacpole house but she reports him that Isabel has gone to Italy.