Their quiet parlour seemed homelike and restful to Nat , when tired of gayer scenes ; and the motherly interest of the elder lady was sweet and comfortable to him ; while the tender blue eyes of the pretty girl were always so full of welcome when he came , of regret when he left , and of admiration when he played to her , that he found it impossible to keep away from this attractive spot . He meant no harm , and feared no danger , having confided to the Frau Mamma that he was betrothed ; so he continued to call , little dreaming what ambitious hopes the old lady cherished , nor the peril there was in receiving the adoration of a romantic German girl , till it was too late to spare her pain and himself great regret . Of course some inkling of these new and agreeable experiences got into the voluminous letters he never was too gay , too busy , or too tired to write each week ; and while Daisy rejoiced over his happiness and success , and the boys laughed at the idea of ` old Chirper coming out as a society man ' , the elders looked sober , and said among themselves : ` He is going too fast ; he must have a word of warning , or trouble may come . ' But Mr Laurie said : ` Oh , let him have his fling ; he 's been dependent and repressed long enough . He ca n't go far with the money he has , and I 've no fear of his getting into debt . He 's too timid and too honest to be reckless . It is his first taste of freedom ; let him enjoy it , and he 'll work the better by and by ; I know -- and I 'm sure I 'm right . ' So the warnings were very gentle , and the good people waited anxiously to hear more of hard study , and less of ` splendid times ' . Daisy sometimes wondered , with a pang of her faithful heart , if one of the charming Minnas , Hildegardes , and Lottchens mentioned were not stealing her Nat away from her ; but she never asked , always wrote calmly and cheerfully , and looked in vain for any hint of change in the letters that were worn out with much reading . Month after month slipped away , till the holidays came with gifts , good wishes , and brilliant festivities . Nat expected to enjoy himself very much , and did at first ; for a German Christmas is a spectacle worth seeing . But he paid dearly for the abandon with which he threw himself into the gaieties of that memorable week ; and on New Year 's Day the reckoning came . It seemed as if some malicious fairy had prepared the surprises that arrived , so unwelcome were they , so magical the change they wrought , turning his happy world into a scene of desolation and despair as suddenly as a transformation at the pantomime . The first came in the morning when , duly armed with costly bouquets and bon-bons , he went to thank Minna and her mother for the braces embroidered with forget-me-nots and the silk socks knit by the old lady 's nimble fingers , which he had found upon his table that day . The Frau Mamma received him graciously ; but when he asked for the daughter the good lady frankly demanded what his intentions were , adding that certain gossip which had reached her ear made it necessary for him to declare himself or come no more , as Minna 's peace must not be compromised . A more panic-stricken youth was seldom seen than Nat as he received this unexpected demand . He saw too late that his American style of gallantry had deceived the artless girl , and might be used with terrible effect by the artful mother , if she chose to do it . Nothing but the truth could save him , and he had the honour and honesty to tell it faithfully . A sad scene followed ; for Nat was obliged to strip off his fictitious splendour , confess himself only a poor student , and humbly ask pardon for the thoughtless freedom with which he had enjoyed their too confiding hospitality . If he had any doubts of Frau Schomburg 's motives and desires , they were speedily set at rest by the frankness with which she showed her disappointment , the vigour with which she scolded him , and the scorn with which she cast him off when her splendid castles in the air collapsed .
The sincerity of XXXXX 's penitence softened her a little and she consented to a farewell word with Minna , who had listened at the keyhole , and was produced drenched in tears , to fall on Nat 's bosom , crying : ` Ah , thou dear one , never can I forget thee , though my heart is broken ! '
Hildegardes Nat Schomburg adoration forget-me-nots gayer month right splendour vigour