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.
