Who is Walter Hartright from The Woman in White and what is their importance?

Walter Hartright is a twenty-eight-year-old artist, who is making a meager living in London. His father, a drawing master, taught him the craft before he died. Walter's mother and sister in Hampstead. Over the course of the novel, Walter takes on a four-month tutoring job at Limmeridge estate for a handsome wage. He's been hired to teach Laura Fairlie and Marian Halcombe to draw at Limmeridge House. He is also charged with restoring the art collection of Frederick Fairlie, who is Laura's guardian.

During his time at Limmeridge House, Walter falls in love with nineteen-year-old Laura, who is engaged to Sir Percival Glyde. He objects to the marriage and leaves for South America at Marian Halcombe's suggestion. When he later returns to England, Walter learns that Laura is dead, so he goes to the grave to mourn. Marian and Laura find him there and together they work to restore Laura's identity and fortune that has been stolen by Sir Percival Glyde and Count Fosco. Walter and Laura later marry and have a son.