CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

PART I: "DAISY MILLER"

Summary (continued)

Winterbourne accepts that Daisy's behavior is not always proper, but he is still anxious to see her again. That same night they meet in the garden of the hotel. Daisy is glad to see Winterbourne, and they begin talking about Daisy's nervous, sleepless mother, who is off chasing Randolph because he doesn't like to go to bed. The subject then turns to Mrs. Costello and her exclusivity. Daisy want to meet her, to be accepted by her. Winterbourne is embarrassed, for he knows his aunt will not see Daisy; he tries to make excuses for his aunt, who Daisy realizes is reluctant to make her acquaintance.

Winterbourne detects a tremor in Daisy's voice, and as Daisy looks away he wonders if she is terribly wounded by the realization. Just as he is ready to denounce his aunt's rude behavior, Daisy sees her mother approaching and then stopping. Daisy says her mother hesitates because she sees the two of them together. Winterbourne, then assuming the mother disapproves of his walking with Daisy, offers to leave. Daisy explains that her mother is "timid" around all her young men, and that Winterbourne must come along and meet her.

Mrs. Miller is small, common yet graceful, elegantly dressed, and has "much-frizzled hair." She is obviously nervous and does not greet Winterbourne. Instead, she carries on a vague conversation with Daisy about the recalcitrant Randolph and his terrible sleeping habits. Mrs. Miller will not look at Winterbourne when he tries to join in the conversation. When Daisy announces that she and Winterbourne are going to the castle, Mrs. Miller merely gives Daisy an uncomfortable look and dimly discusses transportation options. Winterbourne is sure that Mrs. Miller is opposed to the outing and decides to ask her to accompany them. Mrs. Miller answers that they should go alone. Winterbourne finds Mrs. Miller a very odd specimen of motherhood.

Daisy interrupts the conversation by asking Winterbourne to take her out on a boat. Winterbourne, finding the impish Daisy quite charming in spite of her odd twists in conversation, agrees to row her over to the castle immediately. Mrs. Miller insists that Daisy should go inside. Winterbourne continues to act as if the plan were serious. When Eugenio shows up to announce the hour, Mrs. Miller appeals to him to convince Daisy that she should not go for the midnight row. He is horrified at the thought that any young lady would actually go out at night with a gentleman. After listening to Eugenio's warnings, Daisy seems to change her mind and says that she just wanted a fuss to be made over her. Winterbourne insists they can still go. When Eugenio frigidly delivers the news that Randolph has gone to bed, Mrs. Miller exclaims "now we can go!" Daisy turns from Winterbourne, hoping he is disappointed, and says good night. The two woman, with Eugenio, go back to the hotel.

Winterbourne, thoroughly perplexed by the encounter with Daisy, is still enchanted by her and looks forward to their trip to the castle in two days. At the appointed time, he waits for her in the public hall of the hotel. When he spies her, he is dazzled by her elegant dress and nice figure. She is animated, charming, and attractive, the kind of girl that people notice. Winterbourne wants to travel in a private carriage, but Daisy wants to take the steamer filled with people. As a result, the outing takes on the characteristics of an "adventure" to Winterbourne. He is even feeling romantic.

On shore, Daisy listens to Winterbourne talk about the castle, but it is obvious to him that his "tour" makes very little impression on her. In fact, she changes the subject and asks Winterbourne about himself. She is impressed with his answers and exclaims that she has never met a man who knew so much. She suggests that he consider traveling with her family in order to teach Randolph, but he explains that he has other occupations. She points out that he does not have a business and questions why he is going back to Geneva. When she finds out he is leaving the next day, Daisy berates him for ten minutes, calling him horrid and threatening to go back to the hotel alone. Through the rest of their trip, Daisy continues to ignore the beauty of the castle and the lake while she complains about his "mysterious charmer" in Geneva, which he denies having. Winterbourne is totally perplexed by Daisy's behavior and amazed at her innocence and crudity.

As they end their outing at the castle, Daisy asks Winterbourne to visit her in Rome during the winter. He states that he has already planned a winter trip to Rome with his aunt. In her same flirtatious manner, Daisy insists that he come for her, not his aunt. Back at the hotel, Winterbourne tells his aunt where he has been and with whom. When she finds that the two of them went alone, she is again appalled at Daisy's forward and improper behavior and thankful that she has not agreed to meet Daisy.

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