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 month 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 . Winter festivities followed the more wholesome summer pleasures , and Nat found them more costly ; for the hospitable ladies expected some return from the stranger ; and carriages , bouquets , theatre tickets , and all the little expenses a young man can not escape at such times , told heavily on the purse which seemed bottomless at first . Taking Mr Laurie for his model , Nat became quite a gallant , and was universally liked ; for through all the newly acquired airs and graces the genuine honesty and simplicity of his character plainly shone , winning confidence and affection from all who knew him . Among these was a certain amiable old lady with a musical daughter -- well-born but poor , and very anxious to marry the aforesaid daughter to some wealthy man . Nat 's little fictions concerning his prospects and friends charmed the gnadige Frau as much as his music and devoted manners did the sentimental Minna . 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 XXXXX said : ` Oh , let him have his fling ; he 's been dependent and repressed long enough .
Bhaer Laurie Minna Nat Vogelstein beer-garden fictions hours month quarters