Chapter 19

Isabel and Madame Merle spend a great deal of time together. Isabel often thinks that she reveals too much of herself to Madame Merle. She thinks Madame Merle has the great talent of knowing how to feel. Madame Merle, on the other hand, says that now that she is forty, she doesnÂ’t know how to feel any more, but does know how to judge. She tells Isabel that she canÂ’t wait to find out what life makes of her and that sheÂ’s sure life might pull her about horribly, but surely will not break her up. Isabel likes to talk to Madame Merle and Madame Merle likes to keep the topic of conversation focused on Isabel.

The weather gets to be so bad that Ralph Touchett canÂ’t go outside. He stands at the window and watches Isabel taking daily walks with Madame Merle. Isabel finds everything about Madame Merle worthy of emulation. She canÂ’t help but realize that Henrietta Stackpole would not at all approve of her new friend. Isabel thinks about the "aristocratic position" as one in which a person is in a better position for appreciating people than they are for appreciating her or him. She thinks Madame Merle has achieved such a position. She finds Madame Merle eminently talented. She is always doing something very well, playing the piano, painting, writing, doing embroidery, or talking. The only fault Isabel can find is that she is not natural. She seems to be a purely social being. Mrs. Touchett, however, tells Isabel that Serena Merle doesnÂ’t have a single fault. Madame Merle answers that for Mrs. Touchett, not having a fault means showing up to dinner on time, not bringing too much luggage when visiting, and not getting sick while visiting.

Madame Merle tells Isabel that she feels that she has failed in her ambitions. She doesnÂ’t have a husband, a child, a fortune, or a position. Isabel objects that she has friends, but Madame Merle is not willing to accept this as an accomplishment. Isabel says that in her mind, success means seeing some dream of oneÂ’s youth come true and that she has already seem this happen. Madame Merle scoffs at this idea. She can only think Isabel must mean that some young man has proposed marriage to her. She says she too has refused proposals of marriage, and perhaps should have made one more refusal if she had done rightly by herself. She tells Isabel the self is in oneÂ’s possessions. Isabel disagrees and argues that the self is separate from what society clothes one in. Isabel never tells Madame Merle directly about Lord Warburton or Caspar Goodwood. She is glad that Lord Warburton is away with his sisters.

Madame Merle finally leaves Gardencourt to go visit some friends who are expecting her. When she leaves, she and Isabel feel close. Isabel is then left on her own. She keeps up her correspondence with Henrietta Stackpole. Henrietta never got the invitation she was expecting from Lady Pensil. She is planning to go to Paris escorted by Mr. Bantling. Isabel tells Ralph all about HenriettaÂ’s goings on. He enjoys hearing the news.

One afternoon, Isabel is in the library when she sees the doctor leave in his carriage. The house is hushed and then Ralph comes into the library. He tells Isabel his father has died.

Table of Contents | Printable Version