Winterborne has promised too much in saying he would introduce Daisy Miller to his aunt. The aunt, Mrs. Costello, is very aloof and aristocratic, and she does not approve of the Millers. She cannot accept them because they are so common. She has heard particularly unfavorable things about the young Miss Miller. Winterborne tries to explain that Daisy is really quite innocent but has not yet learned all of the educated ways of the world. When he tells his aunt that he is going to take Daisy Miller to the castle, Mrs. Costello is “honestly shocked.”
When Winterborne next meets Daisy, he is concerned about his aunt’s refusal to meet her. Daisy promptly tells him that she has been looking for his aunt. She has heard a great deal about Mrs. Costello from the chambermaids and is quite anxious to become acquainted with her. Winterborne tries to cover for his aunt by saying that she is often confined to her room with headaches. Upon further questioning, Daisy suddenly realizes that the aunt doesn’t want to know her. Then Winterborne feels like admitting that his aunt is a “proud, rude woman and . . . that they needn’t mind her.”
Mrs. Miller appears and Daisy introduces Winterborne. Soon Daisy mentions that she is going to visit the castle with Mr. Winterborne. When Mrs. Miller says nothing, he assumes “that she deeply disapproved of the projected excursion.” He has even taken it as a matter of course that she would accompany them. But Mrs. Miller simply says that the two should go alone.
Suddenly, Daisy suggests that they go for a row on the lake. Even Mrs. Miller thinks this would not be good, but Daisy insists. The courier appears and it is obvious that he is shocked when he learns that Miss Miller (or any young lady) would actually go out alone at night with a gentleman. Then just as suddenly, Daisy changes her mind, leaving Winterborne extremely perplexed and puzzled by her actions.
Two days later, he takes Daisy on the boat. She is extremely relaxed and yet animated. Her responses to the castle are refreshing. The day is proving to be exceptional for Winterborne until he mentions that he has to leave the next day. Immediately, Daisy tells him that he is horrid. To his bewilderment, she attributes his departure to the demands of some possessive woman. She then promises to quit “teasing” him if he will promise to come see her in Rome. Winterborne says that it is an easy promise to make because he has already accepted an invitation to visit his aunt when she goes to Rome.
That evening, Winterborne tells his aunt that he went with Daisy Miller to visit the castle. When she finds out that they went alone, she is thankful that she refused to be introduced to Miss Miller.
