He was right ; and Nat was already getting his lesson in life with a rapidity which would have astonished his friends at home . The manliness over which Mrs Jo rejoiced was developing in unexpected ways , and quiet Nat had plunged into the more harmless dissipations of the gay city with all the ardour of an inexperienced youth taking his first sip of pleasure . The entire freedom and sense of independence was delicious , for many benefits began to burden him , and he longed to stand on his own legs and make his own way . No one knew his past here ; and with a well-stocked wardrobe , a handsome sum at his banker 's , and the best teacher in Leipzig , he made his debut as a musical young gentleman , presented by the much-respected Professor Bhaer and the wealthy Mr Laurence , who had many friends glad to throw open their houses to his protege . Thanks to these introductions , his fluent German , modest manners , and undeniable talent , the stranger was cordially welcomed , and launched at once into a circle which many an ambitious young man strove in vain to enter . All this rather turned Nat 's head ; and as he sat in the brilliant opera-house , chatted among the ladies at some select coffee-party , or whisked an eminent professor 's amiable daughter down the room , trying to imagine she was Daisy , he often asked himself if this gay fellow could be the poor homeless little Street musician who once stood waiting in the rain at the gates of Plumfield . His heart was true , his impulses good , and his ambitions high ; but the weak side of his nature came uppermost here ; vanity led him astray , pleasure intoxicated him , and for a time he forgot everything but the delights of this new and charming life . Without meaning to deceive , he allowed people to imagine him a youth of good family and prospects ; he boasted a little of Mr Laurie 's wealth and influence , of Professor Bhaer 's eminence , and the flourishing college at which he himself had been educated . Mrs Jo was introduced to the sentimental Frauleins who read her books , and the charms and virtues of his own dear Madchen confided to sympathetic mammas . All these boyish boastings and innocent vanities were duly circulated among the gossips , and his importance much increased thereby , to his surprise and gratification , as well as some shame . But they bore fruit that was bitter in the end ; for , finding that he was considered one of the upper class , it very soon became impossible for him to live in the humble quarters he had chosen , or to lead the studious , quiet life planned for him . He met other students , young officers , and gay fellows of all sorts , and was flattered at being welcomed among them ; though it was a costly pleasure , and often left a thorn of regret to vex his honest conscience . He was tempted to take better rooms in a more fashionable street , leaving good Frau Tetzel to lament his loss , and his artist neighbour , Fraulein Vogelstein , to shake her grey ringlets and predict his return , a sadder and a wiser man . The sum placed at his disposal for expenses and such simple pleasures as his busy life could command seemed a fortune to Nat , though it was smaller than generous Mr Laurie first proposed . Professor Bhaer wisely counselled prudence , as Nat was unused to the care of money , and the good man knew the temptations that a well-filled purse makes possible at this pleasure-loving age . So Nat enjoyed his handsome little apartment immensely , and insensibly let many unaccustomed luxuries creep in . He loved his music and never missed a lesson ; but the hours he should have spent in patient practice were too often wasted at theatre , ball , beer-garden , or club -- doing no harm beyond that waste of precious time , and money not his own ; for he had no vices , and took his recreation like a gentleman , so far . But slowly a change for the worse was beginning to show itself , and he felt it . These first steps along the flowery road were downward , not upward ; and the constant sense of disloyalty which soon began to haunt him made Nat feel , in the few quiet hours he gave himself , that all was not well with him , spite of the happy whirl in which he lived . ` Another month , and then I will be steady , ' he said more than once , trying to excuse the delay by the fact that all was new to him , that his friends at home wished him to be happy , and that society was giving him the polish he needed .
But as each XXXXX slipped away it grew harder to escape ; he was inevitably drawn on , and it was so easy to drift with the tide that he deferred the evil day as long as possible .
Frauleins Jo ardour beer-garden gossips left month musician neighbour quarters