The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: drawing room with Daisy alone, Mrs. Miller being apparently constantly
of the opinion that discretion is the better part of surveillance.
Winterbourne noted, at first with surprise, that Daisy on these
occasions was never embarrassed or annoyed by his own entrance;
but he very presently began to feel that she had no more surprises for him;
the unexpected in her behavior was the only thing to expect. She showed
no displeasure at her tete-a-tete with Giovanelli being interrupted;
she could chatter as freshly and freely with two gentlemen as with one;
there was always, in her conversation, the same odd mixture of audacity
and puerility. Winterbourne remarked to himself that if she was
seriously interested in Giovanelli, it was very singular that she should
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