Winterbourne, who had returned to Geneva the day after his excursion to Chillon, went to Rome toward the end of January.
His aunt had been established there for several weeks, and he had received a couple of letters from her.
"Those people you were so devoted to last summer at Vevey have turned up here, courier and all," she wrote.
"They seem to have made several acquaintances, but the courier continues to be the most intime. The young lady, however, is also very intimate with some third-rate Italians, with whom she rackets about in a way that makes much talk.
Bring me that pretty novel of Cherbuliez's--Paule Mere--and don't come later than the 23rd."
In the natural course of events, Winterbourne, on arriving in Rome, would presently have ascertained Mrs. Miller's address at the American banker's and have gone to pay his compliments to Miss Daisy.
"After what happened at Vevey, I think I may certainly call upon them,"he said to Mrs. Costello.
"If, after what happens--at Vevey and everywhere--you desire to keep up the acquaintance, you are very welcome. Of course a man may know everyone.
Men are welcome to the privilege!"
"Pray what is it that happens--here, for instance?" Winterbourne demanded.
"The girl goes about alone with her foreigners. As to what happens further, you must apply elsewhere for information.
She has picked up half a dozen of the regular Roman fortune hunters, and she takes them about to people's houses.
When she comes to a party she brings with her a gentleman with a good deal of manner and a wonderful mustache.""And where is the mother?"
"I haven't the least idea. They are very dreadful people."Winterbourne meditated a moment. "They are very ignorant--very innocent only. Depend upon it they are not bad.""They are hopelessly vulgar," said Mrs. Costello. "Whether or no being hopelessly vulgar is being 'bad' is a question for the metaphysicians.
They are bad enough to dislike, at any rate; and for this short life that is quite enough."The news that Daisy Miller was surrounded by half a dozen wonderful mustaches checked Winterbourne's impulse to go straightway to see her.
He had, perhaps, not definitely flattered himself that he had made an ineffaceable impression upon her heart, but he was annoyed at hearing of a state of affairs so little in harmony with an image that had lately flitted in and out of his own meditations; the image of a very pretty girl looking out of an old Roman window and asking herself urgently when Mr. Winterbourne would arrive. If, however, he determined to wait a little before reminding Miss Miller of his claims to her consideration, he went very soon to call upon two or three other friends.
One of these friends was an American lady who had spent several winters at Geneva, where she had placed her children at school.
She was a very accomplished woman, and she lived in the Via Gregoriana.
Winterbourne found her in a little crimson drawing room on a third floor;the room was filled with southern sunshine. He had not been there ten minutes when the servant came in, announcing "Madame Mila!" This announcement was presently followed by the entrance of little Randolph Miller, who stopped in the middle of the room and stood staring at Winterbourne.
An instant later his pretty sister crossed the threshold; and then, after a considerable interval, Mrs. Miller slowly advanced.
"I know you!" said Randolph.
"I'm sure you know a great many things," exclaimed Winterbourne, taking him by the hand. "How is your education coming on?"Daisy was exchanging greetings very prettily with her hostess, but when she heard Winterbourne's voice she quickly turned her head.
"Well, I declare!" she said.
"I told you I should come, you know," Winterbourne rejoined, smiling.
"Well, I didn't believe it," said Miss Daisy.
"I am much obliged to you," laughed the young man.
"You might have come to see me!" said Daisy.
"I arrived only yesterday."
"I don't believe tte that!" the young girl declared.
Winterbourne turned with a protesting smile to her mother, but this lady evaded his glance, and, seating herself, fixed her eyes upon her son. "We've got a bigger place than this," said Randolph.
"It's all gold on the walls."
Mrs. Miller turned uneasily in her chair. "I told you if I were to bring you, you would say something!" she murmured.
"I told YOU!" Randolph exclaimed. "I tell YOU, sir!"he added jocosely, giving Winterbourne a thump on the knee.
"It IS bigger, too!"
Daisy had entered upon a lively conversation with her hostess;Winterbourne judged it becoming to address a few words to her mother.
"I hope you have been well since we parted at Vevey," he said.
Mrs. Miller now certainly looked at him--at his chin.
"Not very well, sir," she answered.
"She's got the dyspepsia," said Randolph. "I've got it too.
Father's got it. I've got it most!"
This announcement, instead of embarrassing Mrs. Miller, seemed to relieve her. "I suffer from the liver," she said.
"I think it's this climate; it's less bracing than Schenectady, especially in the winter season. I don't know whether you know we reside at Schenectady. I was saying to Daisy that I certainly hadn't found any one like Dr. Davis, and I didn't believe I should.
Oh, at Schenectady he stands first; they think everything of him.
He has so much to do, and yet there was nothing he wouldn't do for me.
He said he never saw anything like my dyspepsia, but he was bound to cure it. I'm sure there was nothing he wouldn't try.
He was just going to try something new when we came off.
Mr. Miller wanted Daisy to see Europe for herself. But I wrote to Mr. Miller that it seems as if I couldn't get on without Dr. Davis.
At Schenectady he stands at the very top; and there's a great deal of sickness there, too. It affects my sleep."Winterbourne had a good deal of pathological gossip with Dr. Davis's patient, during which Daisy chattered unremittingly to her own companion.
The young man asked Mrs. Miller how she was pleased with Rome.
