The entire last section recounts Daisy’s rapid decline through showing several more of her indiscretions. We hear immediately that Daisy is alone in the apartment with Mr. Giovanelli and that she sent her mother on ahead so that she could be alone with the man. We do not know Daisy’s motivations for this indiscretion, but she is certainly open about it. When she arrives at the party, she innocently tells that she remained alone in order to practice some songs. If Daisy had any concept or thought of impropriety, she would not have been so free to discuss it at the party.
Daisy apparently lives for the worth of the human being and for human relationships. In other words, she thought it would have been more improper for her to desert Mr. Giovanelli than to be seen walking with him. Simply because the ladies of Italy do not walk is no reason for Daisy to be denied this simple pleasure. As she said, she sees no reason why she should change her habits to conform to the ladies of Italy, when their habits deny most of the simple pleasure in life.
Daisy is, however, sensitive to rebuffs from others. When Mrs. Walker turns her back on Daisy, Winterborne notices that the young lady is deeply hurt. She has never been treated so rudely before and is temporarily at a loss of know how to interpret it.
As Winterborne continues to see Daisy, he realizes more and more that she is a person who likes her freedom and who likes to respond to any aspect of life without restrictions. When Winterborne visits the Millers, he is constantly aware of Daisy’s “inexhaustible good humour.” He knows that she prefers to have a good time to being thought of as absolutely proper. She seems to work always with an inner knowledge that she is innocent and, with innocence, one should not have to worry about one’s reputation. As Daisy tells Winterborne, she prefers tea to advice, and would rather be with people who say agreeable things to her than with those who say disagreeable things.
What disappoints Winterborne is the fact that Daisy represents so much that is pretty, innocent, spontaneous, and good, but all of these qualities are being misdirected. So much that is admirable is being made ugly.
Winterborne is, of course, stultified when he attempts to speak with Mrs. Miller. Here is a mother the like of which he has never before encountered. She seems totally indifferent to her daughter’s behavior. Consequently, Daisy’s actions must be in accord with some new type of American behavior.
Finally, even Winterborne is shocked with Daisy. When he discovers her alone at night with Mr. Giovanelli in the Colosseum, he too admits that she need no longer be treated with respect. But this final indiscretion is paid for severely. Because of this night Daisy contracts the Roman fever and is soon dead. It is as though her final act of imprudence is equated with her death.
It is only after Daisy’s death that Winterborne realizes she would have enjoyed someone’s esteem. But the person to esteem her would have had to be a person who realized that she was essentially innocent and only searching for some simple but enjoyable experiences in life.
The final emphasis of the story is again on Daisy’s innocence. Mr. Giovanelli maintains that she was the most wonderful and innocent person he had ever met. It is an innocence that is American and this same quality when not tempered with the proper forms of behavior will often be interpreted incorrectly. Thus, Winterborne feels that he has lived too long in Europe.
