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 Nat '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 ! ' This was worse than the scolding ; for the stout lady also wept , and it was only after much German gush and twaddle that he escaped , feeling like another Werther ; while the deserted Lotte consoled herself with the bonbons , her mother with the more valuable gifts . The second surprise arrived as he dined with Professor Baumgarten . His appetite had been effectually taken away by the scene of the morning , and his spirits received another damper when a fellow student cheerfully informed him that he was about to go to America , and should make it his agreeable duty to call on the ` lieber Herr Professor Bhaer ' , to tell him how gaily his protege was disporting himself at Leipzig . Nat 's heart died within him as he imagined the effect these glowing tales would have at Plumfield -- not that he had wilfully deceived them , but in his letters many things were left untold ; and when Carlsen added , with a friendly wink , that he would merely hint at the coming betrothal of the fair Minna and his ` heart 's friend ' , Nat found himself devoutly hoping that this other inconvenient heart 's friend might go to the bottom of the sea before he reached Plumfield to blast all his hopes by these tales of a mis-spent winter .
Collecting his wits , he cautioned XXXXX with what he flattered himself was Mephistophelian art , and gave him such confused directions that it would be a miracle if he ever found Professor Bhaer .
Bhaer Carlsen German Leipzig Lotte Minna Minnas day first morning