The Portrait of a Lady Chapter 3

In which the singular and somewhat austere Mrs. Touchett returns to her husband’s house in Florence, revealing a character of firm principles and peculiar habits, while a rainy afternoon in Albany introduces the young and reflective Isabel to an unexpected visitor—her austere Aunt Lydia—whose presence and conversation awaken in Isabel a desire for experience beyond her accustomed domestic sphere. The interaction between niece and aunt unfolds with a gentle irony and candid curiosity, setting the stage for Isabel’s contemplation of heritage, place, and the promise of a wider, more cosmopolitan world.