'He never writes often, you know, but does his work and then comeshome. Months and years seem to mean little to him, and he is probablyprospecting in the wilderness, forgetful of time,' answered Mr Bhaer,deep in one of Nat's long letters from Leipzig.

 

　　'But he promised he would let me know how he got on, and Dan keepshis word if he can. I'm afraid something has happened to him'; andMrs Jo comforted herself by patting Don's head, as he came at thesound of his master's name to look at her with eyes almost human intheir wistful intelligence.

 

　　'Don't worry, Mum dear, nothing ever happens to the old fellow.

 

　　He'll turn up all right, and come stalking in some day with agold-mine in one pocket and a prairie in the other, as jolly as agrig,' said Ted, who was in no haste to deliver Octoo to her rightfulowner.

 

　　'Perhaps he has gone to Montana and given up the farm plan. He seemedto like Indians best, I thought'; and Rob went to help his motherwith her pile of letters and his cheerful suggestions.

 

　　'I hope so, it would suit him best. But I am sure he would have toldus his change of plan and sent for some money to work with. No, Ifeel in my prophetic bones that something is wrong,' said Mrs Jo,looking as solemn as Fate in a breakfast-cap.

 

　　'Then we shall hear; ill news always travels fast. Don't borrowtrouble, Jo, but hear how well Nat is getting on. I'd no idea the boywould care for anything but music. My good friend Baumgarten haslaunched him well, and it will do him good if he lose not his head. Agood lad, but new to the world, and Leipzig is full of snares for theunwary. Gott be with him!'

 

　　The Professor read Nat's enthusiastic account of certain literary andmusical parties he had been to, the splendours of the opera, thekindness of his new friends, the delight of studying under such amaster as Bergmann, his hopes of rapid gain, and his great gratitudeto those who had opened this enchanted world to him.

 

　　'That, now, is satisfactory and comfortable. I felt that Nat hadunsuspected power in him before he went away; he was so manly andfull of excellent plans,' said Mrs Jo, in a satisfied tone.

 

　　'We shall see. He will doubtless get his lesson and be the better forit. That comes to us all in our young days. I hope it will not be toohard for our good Jungling,' answered the Professor, with a wisesmile, remembering his own student life in Germany.

 

　　He was right; and Nat was already getting his lesson in life with arapidity which would have astonished his friends at home. Themanliness over which Mrs Jo rejoiced was developing in unexpectedways, and quiet Nat had plunged into the more harmless dissipationsof the gay city with all the ardour of an inexperienced youth takinghis first sip of pleasure. The entire freedom and sense ofindependence was delicious, for many benefits began to burden him,and he longed to stand on his own legs and make his own way. No oneknew his past here; and with a well-stocked wardrobe, a handsome sumat his banker's, and the best teacher in Leipzig, he made his debutas a musical young gentleman, presented by the much-respectedProfessor Bhaer and the wealthy Mr Laurence, who had many friendsglad to throw open their houses to his protege. Thanks to theseintroductions, his fluent German, modest manners, and undeniabletalent, the stranger was cordially welcomed, and launched at onceinto a circle which many an ambitious young man strove in vain toenter.

 

　　All this rather turned Nat's head; and as he sat in the brilliantopera-house, chatted among the ladies at some select coffee-party, orwhisked an eminent professor's amiable daughter down the room, tryingto imagine she was Daisy, he often asked himself if this gay fellowcould be the poor homeless little Street musician who once stoodwaiting in the rain at the gates of Plumfield. His heart was true,his impulses good, and his ambitions high; but the weak side of hisnature came uppermost here; vanity led him astray, pleasureintoxicated him, and for a time he forgot everything but the delightsof this new and charming life. Without meaning to deceive, he allowedpeople to imagine him a youth of good family and prospects; heboasted a little of Mr Laurie's wealth and influence, of ProfessorBhaer's eminence, and the flourishing college at which he himself hadbeen educated. Mrs Jo was introduced to the sentimental Frauleins whoread her books, and the charms and virtues of his own dear Madchenconfided to sympathetic mammas. All these boyish boastings andinnocent vanities were duly circulated among the gossips, and hisimportance 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 hewas considered one of the upper class, it very soon became impossiblefor him to live in the humble quarters he had chosen, or to lead thestudious, quiet life planned for him. He met other students, youngofficers, and gay fellows of all sorts, and was flattered at beingwelcomed among them; though it was a costly pleasure, and often lefta thorn of regret to vex his honest conscience. He was tempted totake better rooms in a more fashionable street, leaving good FrauTetzel to lament his loss, and his artist neighbour, FrauleinVogelstein, to shake her grey ringlets and predict his return, asadder and a wiser man.

 

　　The sum placed at his disposal for expenses and such simple pleasuresas his busy life could command seemed a fortune to Nat, though it wassmaller than generous Mr Laurie first proposed. Professor Bhaerwisely counselled prudence, as Nat was unused to the care of money,and the good man knew the temptations that a well-filled purse makespossible at this pleasure-loving age. So Nat enjoyed his handsomelittle apartment immensely, and insensibly let many unaccustomedluxuries creep in. He loved his music and never missed a lesson; butthe hours he should have spent in patient practice were too oftenwasted at theatre, ball, beer-garden, or club--doing no harm beyondthat waste of precious time, and money not his own; for he had novices, and took his recreation like a gentleman, so far. But slowly achange 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 himmade Nat feel, in the few quiet hours he gave himself, that all wasnot 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, thathis friends at home wished him to be happy, and that society wasgiving him the polish he needed. But as each month slipped away itgrew harder to escape; he was inevitably drawn on, and it was so easyto drift with the tide that he deferred the evil day as long aspossible. Winter festivities followed the more wholesome summerpleasures, and Nat found them more costly; for the hospitable ladiesexpected some return from the stranger; and carriages, bouquets,theatre tickets, and all the little expenses a young man cannotescape at such times, told heavily on the purse which seemedbottomless at first. Taking Mr Laurie for his model, Nat became quitea gallant, and was universally liked; for through all the newlyacquired airs and graces the genuine honesty and simplicity of hischaracter plainly shone, winning confidence and affection from allwho knew him.

 

　　Among these was a certain amiable old lady with a musicaldaughter--well-born but poor, and very anxious to marry the aforesaiddaughter to some wealthy man. Nat's little fictions concerning hisprospects and friends charmed the gnadige Frau as much as his musicand devoted manners did the sentimental Minna. Their quiet parlourseemed homelike and restful to Nat, when tired of gayer scenes; andthe motherly interest of the elder lady was sweet and comfortable tohim; while the tender blue eyes of the pretty girl were always sofull of welcome when he came, of regret when he left, and ofadmiration when he played to her, that he found it impossible to keepaway from this attractive spot. He meant no harm, and feared nodanger, having confided to the Frau Mamma that he was betrothed; sohe continued to call, little dreaming what ambitious hopes the oldlady cherished, nor the peril there was in receiving the adoration ofa romantic German girl, till it was too late to spare her pain andhimself great regret.

 

　　Of course some inkling of these new and agreeable experiences gotinto the voluminous letters he never was too gay, too busy, or tootired to write each week; and while Daisy rejoiced over his happinessand success, and the boys laughed at the idea of 'old Chirper comingout as a society man', the elders looked sober, and said amongthemselves:

 

　　'He is going too fast; he must have a word of warning, or trouble maycome.'

 

　　But Mr Laurie said: 'Oh, let him have his fling; he's been dependentand repressed long enough. He can't go far with the money he has, andI've no fear of his getting into debt. He's too timid and too honestto 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 waitedanxiously to hear more of hard study, and less of 'splendid times'.

 

　　Daisy sometimes wondered, with a pang of her faithful heart, if oneof the charming Minnas, Hildegardes, and Lottchens mentioned were notstealing her Nat away from her; but she never asked, always wrotecalmly and cheerfully, and looked in vain for any hint of change inthe 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 himselfvery much, and did at first; for a German Christmas is a spectacleworth seeing. But he paid dearly for the abandon with which he threwhimself into the gaieties of that memorable week; and on New Year'sDay the reckoning came. It seemed as if some malicious fairy hadprepared the surprises that arrived, so unwelcome were they, somagical the change they wrought, turning his happy world into a sceneof desolation and despair as suddenly as a transformation at thepantomime.

 

　　The first came in the morning when, duly armed with costly bouquetsand bon-bons, he went to thank Minna and her mother for the bracesembroidere............