EngLits: Daisy Miller by InterLingua Publishing

Author:InterLingua Publishing
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: InterLingua Educational Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Winterbourne tries to call on Daisy for the next two days, but finds no one at their hotel. The third evening marks the date of Mrs. Walker’s party, which Winterbourne decides to attend in spite of his last uncomfortable interview with the hostess. Mrs. Miller arrives at the party by herself, more frazzled looking than ever and very apologetic for her daughter’s absence. She says she and Giovanelli dressed for the party, but are back at the hotel and engrossed in playing the piano and singing. She hopes they will arrive soon. Mrs. Walker is horrified at Daisy’s rudeness. Turning to Winterbourne, she says she will not speak to her when she arrives.

Daisy and Giovanelli finally arrive after eleven with a great boom of her typical casual chatter and pleasantries. Mrs. Walker is very curt. Giovanelli sings without an invitation to do so, which Daisy speaks through regardless of her previous declarations of his musical prowess. She tells Winterbourne that it is a pity Mrs. Walker’s rooms are too small for dancing. When he says he doesn’t dance, she replies that he is obviously just too stiff for it.

He then scolds her for walking alone with Giovanelli and points out that the man would never think of taking such a walk with a young, Italian woman. She grows impatient at the mention of custom and declares that she does not see why she should change her habits for them. When Winterbourne points out that her habits are too flirtatious, she retorts that all nice girls are flirts, though he probably thinks she is not a nice girl. He denies it, saying she is a nice girl, but wishes that she flirt only with him. She refuses, accusing him of being too stiff.

He tries once again to explain the importance of adhering to the customs of the country one is in, saying flirting is an American habit; European girls do not appear in public without their mothers. She counters that she and Giovanelli are close, intimate friends and he says that if it is love, it is a whole other affair, shocking her to the point of blushing and rising. When he declares little American flirts the queerest creatures in the world, she becomes upset and insulted. Giovanelli makes his way towards them and Daisy smiles at his suggestion of having some tea in the other room, saying she has not been offered any yet. Winterbourne interjects that he offered her advice instead and she angrily retorts that she would prefer tea.

For the rest of the evening, Daisy and Giovanelli sit together talking and rudely ignoring the other guests. As she leaves, Mrs. Walker rudely and intentionally turns her back on her. For the first time, Winterbourne sees Daisy truly shocked and hurt. He criticizes Mrs. Walker for her cruelty and the woman retorts that she is no longer welcome in her drawing room.

From then on, Winterbourne has no choice but to visit the Miller’s hotel to see Daisy, but she is rarely there, and when she is present she seems to be with Giovanelli, often alone.

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