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that profundity of Italian cleverness which enables people to appear
more gracious in proportion as they are more acutely disappointed。
Giovanelli； of course； had counted upon something more intimate；
he had not bargained for a party of three。 But he kept his
temper in a manner which suggested far…stretching intentions。
Winterbourne flattered himself that he had taken his measure。
〃He is not a gentleman；〃 said the young American；
〃he is only a clever imitation of one。 He is a music master；
or a penny…a…liner； or a third…rate artist。 D__n his good looks！〃
Mr。 Giovanelli had certainly a very pretty face； but Winterbourne felt
a superior indignation at his own lovely fellow countrywoman's not
knowing the difference between a spurious gentleman and a real one。
Giovanelli chattered and jested and made himself wonderfully agreeable。
It was true that； if he was an imitation； the imitation was brilliant。
〃Nevertheless；〃 Winterbourne said to himself； 〃a nice girl ought to know！〃
And then he came back to the question whether this was； in fact；
a nice girl。 Would a nice girl； even allowing for her being a little
American flirt； make a rendezvous with a presumably low…lived foreigner？
The rendezvous in this case； indeed； had been in broad daylight and in
the most crowded corner of Rome； but was it not impossible to regard
the choice of these circumstances as a proof of extreme cynicism？
Singular though it may seem； Winterbourne was vexed that the young girl；
in joining her amoroso； should not appear more impatient
of his own company； and he was vexed because of his inclination。
It was impossible to regard her as a perfectly well…conducted
young lady； she was wanting in a certain indispensable delicacy。
It would therefore simplify matters greatly to be able to treat
her as the object of one of those sentiments which are called by
romancers 〃lawless passions。〃 That she should seem to wish to get rid
of him would help him to think more lightly of her； and to be able
to think more lightly of her would make her much less perplexing。
But Daisy； on this occasion； continued to present herself as an
inscrutable combination of audacity and innocence。
She had been walking some quarter of an hour； attended by her
two cavaliers； and responding in a tone of very childish gaiety；
as it seemed to Winterbourne； to the pretty speeches
of Mr。 Giovanelli； when a carriage that had detached
itself from the revolving train drew up beside the path。
At the same moment Winterbourne perceived that his friend
Mrs。 Walkerthe lady whose house he had lately left
was seated in the vehicle and was beckoning to him。
Leaving Miss Miller's side； he hastened to obey her summons。
Mrs。 Walker was flushed； she wore an excited air。
〃It is really too dreadful；〃 she said。 〃That girl must not do
this sort of thing。 She must not walk here with you two men。
Fifty people have noticed her。〃
Winterbourne raised his eyebrows。 〃I think it's a pity to make
too much fuss about it。〃
〃It's a pity to let the girl ruin herself！〃
〃She is very innocent；〃 said Winterbourne。
〃She's very crazy！〃 cried Mrs。 Walker。 〃Did you ever see
anything so imbecile as her mother？ After you had all left
me just now； I could not sit still for thinking of it。
It seemed too pitiful； not even to attempt to save her。
I ordered the carriage and put on my bonnet； and came here
as quickly as possible。 Thank Heaven I have found you！〃
〃What do you propose to do with us？〃 asked Winterbourne； smiling。
〃To ask her to get in； to drive her about here for half an hour；
so that the world may see she is not running absolutely wild；
and then to take her safely home。〃
〃I don't think it's a very happy thought；〃 said Winterbourne；
〃but you can try。〃
Mrs。 Walker tried。 The young man went in pursuit of Miss Miller；
who had simply nodded and smiled at his interlocutor in the carriage
and had gone her way with her companion。 Daisy； on learning
that Mrs。 Walker wished to speak to her； retraced her steps
with a perfect good grace and with Mr。 Giovanelli at her side。
She declared that she was delighted to have a chance to present this
gentleman to Mrs。 Walker。 She immediately achieved the introduction；
and declared that she had never in her life seen anything so lovely
as Mrs。 Walker's carriage rug。
〃I am glad you admire it；〃 said this lady； smiling sweetly。
〃Will you get in and let me put it over you？〃
〃Oh； no； thank you；〃 said Daisy。 〃I shall admire it much more as I see you
driving round with it。〃
〃Do get in and drive with me！〃 said Mrs。 Walker。
〃That would be charming； but it's so enchanting just as I am！〃
and Daisy gave a brilliant glance at the gentlemen on either
side of her。
〃It may be enchanting； dear child； but it is not the custom here；〃
urged Mrs。 Walker； leaning forward in her victoria； with her
hands devoutly clasped。
〃Well； it ought to be； then！〃 said Daisy。 〃If I didn't walk
I should expire。〃
〃You should walk with your mother； dear；〃 cried the lady
from Geneva； losing patience。
〃With my mother dear！〃 exclaimed the young girl。 Winterbourne saw that she
scented interference。 〃My mother never walked ten steps in her life。
And then； you know；〃 she added with a laugh； 〃I am more than five years old。〃
〃You are old enough to be more reasonable。 You are old enough；
dear Miss Miller； to be talked about。〃
Daisy looked at Mrs。 Walker； smiling intensely。 〃Talked about？
What do you mean？〃
〃Come into my carriage； and I will tell you。〃
Daisy turned her quickened glance again from one of the gentlemen beside her
to the other。 Mr。 Giovanelli was bowing to and fro； rubbing down his gloves
and laughing very agreeably； Winterbourne thought it a most unpleasant scene。
〃I don't think I want to know what you mean；〃 said Daisy presently。
〃I don't think I should like it。〃
Winterbourne wished that Mrs。 Walker would tuck in her carriage rug and drive
away； but this lady did not enjoy being defied； as she afterward told him。
〃Should you prefer being thought a very reckless girl？〃 she demanded。
〃Gracious！〃 exclaimed Daisy。 She looked again at Mr。 Giovanelli；
then she turned to Winterbourne。 There was a little pink flush in
her cheek； she was tremendously pretty。 〃Does Mr。 Winterbourne think；〃
she asked slowly； smiling； throwing back her head； and glancing
at him from head to foot； 〃that； to save my reputation； I ought
to get into the carriage？〃
Winterbourne colored； for an instant he hesitated greatly。
It seemed so strange to hear her speak that way of her 〃reputation。〃
But he himself； in fact； must speak in accordance with gallantry。
The finest gallantry； here； was simply to tell her the truth；
and the truth； for Winterbourne； as the few indications I
have been able to give have made him known to the reader；
was that Daisy Miller should take Mrs。 Walker's advice。
He looked at her exquisite prettines