daisy miller-第8章

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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　prettiness；　and　then　he　said；

very　gently；　〃I　think　you　should　get　into　the　carriage。〃



Daisy　gave　a　violent　laugh。　　〃I　never　heard　anything　so　stiff！

If　this　is　improper；　Mrs。　Walker；〃　she　pursued；　〃then　I　am　all　improper；

and　you　must　give　me　up。　　Goodbye；　I　hope　you'll　have　a　lovely　ride！〃

and；　with　Mr。　Giovanelli；　who　made　a　triumphantly　obsequious　salute；

she　turned　away。



Mrs。　Walker　sat　looking　after　her；　and　there　were　tears　in

Mrs。　Walker's　eyes。　　〃Get　in　here；　sir；〃　she　said　to　Winterbourne；

indicating　the　place　beside　her。　　The　young　man　answered　that　he　felt

bound　to　accompany　Miss　Miller；　whereupon　Mrs。　Walker　declared　that

if　he　refused　her　this　favor　she　would　never　speak　to　him　again。

She　was　evidently　in　earnest。　　Winterbourne　overtook　Daisy　and

her　companion；　and；　offering　the　young　girl　his　hand；　told　her

that　Mrs。　Walker　had　made　an　imperious　claim　upon　his　society。

He　expected　that　in　answer　she　would　say　something　rather　free；

something　to　commit　herself　still　further　to　that　〃recklessness〃

from　which　Mrs。　Walker　had　so　charitably　endeavored　to　dissuade　her。

But　she　only　shook　his　hand；　hardly　looking　at　him；　while　Mr。　Giovanelli

bade　him　farewell　with　a　too　emphatic　flourish　of　the　hat。



Winterbourne　was　not　in　the　best　possible　humor　as　he　took　his　seat　in

Mrs。　Walker's　victoria。　　〃That　was　not　clever　of　you；〃　he　said　candidly；

while　the　vehicle　mingled　again　with　the　throng　of　carriages。



〃In　such　a　case；〃　his　companion　answered；　〃I　don't　wish　to　be　clever；

I　wish　to　be　EARNEST！〃



〃Well；　your　earnestness　has　only　offended　her　and　put　her　off。〃



〃It　has　happened　very　well；〃　said　Mrs。　Walker。　　〃If　she　is　so　perfectly

determined　to　compromise　herself；　the　sooner　one　knows　it　the　better；

one　can　act　accordingly。〃



〃I　suspect　she　meant　no　harm；〃　Winterbourne　rejoined。



〃So　I　thought　a　month　ago。　　But　she　has　been　going　too　far。〃



〃What　has　she　been　doing？〃



〃Everything　that　is　not　done　here。　　Flirting　with　any　man　she　could　pick　up；

sitting　in　corners　with　mysterious　Italians；　dancing　all　the　evening

with　the　same　partners；　receiving　visits　at　eleven　o'clock　at　night。

Her　mother　goes　away　when　visitors　come。〃



〃But　her　brother；〃　said　Winterbourne；　laughing；　〃sits　up　till　midnight。〃



〃He　must　be　edified　by　what　he　sees。　　I'm　told　that　at　their　hotel

everyone　is　talking　about　her；　and　that　a　smile　goes　round　among

all　the　servants　when　a　gentleman　comes　and　asks　for　Miss　Miller。〃



〃The　servants　be　hanged！〃　said　Winterbourne　angrily。

〃The　poor　girl's　only　fault；〃　he　presently　added；　〃is　that　she

is　very　uncultivated。〃



〃She　is　naturally　indelicate；〃　Mrs。　Walker　declared。



〃Take　that　example　this　morning。　　How　long　had　you　known　her　at　Vevey？〃



〃A　couple　of　days。〃



〃Fancy；　then；　her　making　it　a　personal　matter　that　you　should　have

left　the　place！〃



Winterbourne　was　silent　for　some　moments；　then　he　said；　〃I　suspect；

Mrs。　Walker；　that　you　and　I　have　lived　too　long　at　Geneva！〃

And　he　added　a　request　that　she　should　inform　him　with　what　particular

design　she　had　made　him　enter　her　carriage。



〃I　wished　to　beg　you　to　cease　your　relations　with　Miss　Miller

not　to　flirt　with　herto　give　her　no　further　opportunity

to　expose　herselfto　let　her　alone；　in　short。〃



〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　do　that；〃　said　Winterbourne。

〃I　like　her　extremely。〃



〃All　the　more　reason　that　you　shouldn't　help　her　to　make　a　scandal。〃



〃There　shall　be　nothing　scandalous　in　my　attentions　to　her。〃



〃There　certainly　will　be　in　the　way　she　takes　them。

But　I　have　said　what　I　had　on　my　conscience；〃　Mrs。　Walker　pursued。

〃If　you　wish　to　rejoin　the　young　lady　I　will　put　you　down。

Here；　by　the　way；　you　have　a　chance。〃



The　carriage　was　traversing　that　part　of　the　Pincian

Garden　that　overhangs　the　wall　of　Rome　and　overlooks

the　beautiful　Villa　Borghese。　　It　is　bordered　by　a

large　parapet；　near　which　there