Adistinguishedpersonagehappenedtovisittheschoolthatmorning，andAmy’sbeautifullydrawnmapsreceivedpraise，whichhonortoherfoerankledinthesoulofMissSnow，andcausedMissMarchtoassumetheairsofastudiousyoungpeacock。But，alas，alas!Pridegoesbeforeafall，andtherevengefulSnowturnedthetableswithdisastroussuccess。Nosoonerhadtheguestpaidtheusualstalecomplimentsandbowedhimselfout，thanJenny，underpretenseofaskinganimportantquestion，informedMr。Davis，theteacher，thatAmyMarchhadpickledlimesinherdesk。
　　NowMr。Davishaddeclaredlimesacontrabandarticle，andsolemnlyvowedtopubliclyferrulethefirstpersonwhowasfoundbreakingthelaw。Thismuch-enduringmanhadsucceededinbanishingchewinggumafteralongandstormywar，hadmadeabonfireoftheconfiscatednovelsandnewspapers，hadsuppressedaprivatepostoffice，hadforbiddendistortionsoftheface，nicknames，andcaricatures，anddoneallthatonemancoulddotokeephalfahundredrebelliousgirlsinorder。Boysaretryingenoughtohumanpatience，goodnessknows，butgirlsareinfinitelymoreso，especiallytonervousgentlemenwithtyrannicaltempersandnomoretalentforteachingthanDr。Blimber。Mr。DavisknewanyquantityofGreek，Latin，algebra，andologiesofallsortssohewascalledafineteacher，andmanners，morals，feelings，andexampleswerenotconsideredofanyparticularimportance。ItwasamostunfortunatemomentfordenouncingAmy，andJennyknewit。Mr。Davishadevidentlytakenhiscoffeetoostrongthatmorning，therewasaneastwind，whichalwaysaffectedhisneuralgia，andhispupilshadnotdonehimthecreditwhichhefelthedeserved。Therefore，tousetheexpressive，ifnotelegant，languageofaschoolgirl，“Hewasasnervousasawitchandascrossasabear“。Theword`limes’
　　waslikefiretopowder，hisyellowfaceflushed，andherappedonhisdeskwithanenergywhichmadeJennyskiptoherseatwithunusualrapidity。
　　“Youngladies，attention，ifyouplease!“
　　Atthesternorderthebuzzceased，andfiftypairsofblue，black，gray，andbrowneyeswereobedientlyfixeduponhisawfulcountenance。
　　“MissMarch，cometothedesk。“
　　Amyrosetocomplywithoutwardcomposure，butasecretfearoppressedher，forthelimesweigheduponherconscience。
　　“Bringwithyouthelimesyouhaveinyourdesk，“wastheunexpectedcommandwhicharrestedherbeforeshegotoutofherseat。
　　“Don’ttakeall。“whisperedherneighbor，ayoungladyofgreatpresenceofmind。
　　AmyhastilyshookouthalfadozenandlaidtherestdownbeforeMr。Davis，feelingthatanymanpossessingahumanheartwouldrelentwhenthatdeliciousperfumemethisnose。Unfortunately，Mr。Davisparticularlydetestedtheodorofthefashionablepickle，anddisgustaddedtohiswrath。
　　“Isthatall？“
　　“Notquite，“stammeredAmy。
　　“Bringtherestimmediately。“
　　Withadespairingglanceatherset，sheobeyed。
　　“Youaresuretherearenomore？’
　　“Ineverlie，sir。“
　　“SoIsee。Nowtakethesedisgustingthingstwobytwo，andthrowthemoutofthewindow。“
　　Therewasasimultaneoussigh，whichcreatedquitealittlegust，asthelasthopefled，andthetreatwasravishedfromtheirlonginglips。Scarletwithshameandanger，Amywenttoandfrosixdreadfultimes，andaseachdoomedcouple，lookingoh，soplumpandjuicy，fellfromherreluctanthands，ashoutfromthestreetcompletedtheanguishofthegirls，forittoldthemthattheirfeastwasbeingexultedoverbythelittleIrishchildren，whoweretheirswornfoes。This——thiswastoomuch。AllflashedindignantorappealingglancesattheinexorableDavis，andonepassionatelimeloverburstintotears。
　　AsAmyreturnedfromherlasttrip，Mr。Davisgaveaportentous“Hem!“andsaid，inhismostimpressivemanner……
　　“Youngladies，yourememberwhatIsaidtoyouaweekago。I
　　amsorrythishashappened，butIneverallowmyrulestobeinfringed，andIneverbreakmyword。MissMarch，holdoutyourhand。“
　　Amystarted，andputbothhandsbehindher，turningonhimanimploringlookwhichpleadedforherbetterthanthewordsshecouldnotutter。Shewasratherafavoritewith`oldDavis’，as，ofcourse，hewascalled，andit’smyprivatebeliefthathewouldhavebrokenhiswordiftheindignationofoneirrepressibleyoungladyhadnotfoundventinahiss。Thathiss，faintasitwas，irritatedtheirasciblegentleman，andsealedtheculprit’sfate。
　　“Yourhand，MissMarch!“wastheonlyanswerhermuteappealreceived，andtooproudtocryorbeseech，Amysetherteeth，threwbachherheaddefiantly，andborewithoutflinchingseveraltinglingblowsonherlittlepalm。Theywereneithermanynorheavy，butthatmadenodifferencetoher。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshehadbeenstruck，andthedisgrace，inhereyes，wasasdeepasifhehadknockedherdown。
　　“Youwillnowstandontheplatformtillrecess，“saidMr。Davis，resolvedtodothethingthoroughly，sincehehadbegun。
　　Thatwasdreadful。Itwouldhavebeenbadenoughtogotoherseat，andseethepityingfacesofherfriends，orthesatisfiedonesofherfewenemies，buttofacethewholeschool，withthatshamefreshuponher，seemedimpossible，andforasecondshefeltasifshecouldonlydropdownwhereshestood，andbreakherheartwithcrying。AbittersenseofwrongandthethoughtofJennySnowhelpedhertobearit，and，takingtheignominiousplace，shefixedhereyesonthestovefunnelabovewhatnowseemedaseaoffaces，andstoodthere，somotionlessandwhitethatthegirlsfoundithardtostudywiththatpatheticfigurebeforethem。
　　Duringthefifteenminutesthatfollowed，theproudandsensitivelittlegirlsufferedashameandpainwhichsheneverforgot。
　　Toothersitmightseemaludicrousortrivialaffair，buttoheritwasahardexperience，forduringthetwelveyearsofherlifeshehadbeengovernedbylovealone，andablowofthatsorthadnevertouchedherbefore。Thesmartofherhandandtheacheofherheartwereforgotteninthestingofthethought，“Ishallhavetotellathome，andtheywillbesodisappointedinme!“
　　Thefifteenminutesseemedanhour，buttheycametoanendatlast，andtheword`Recess!’hadneverseemedsowelcometoherbefore。
　　“Youcango，MissMarch，“saidMr。Davis，looking，ashefelt，uncomfortable。
　　HedidnotsoonforgetthereproachfulglanceAmygavehim，asshewent，withoutawordtoanyone，straightintotheanteroom，snatchedherthings，andlefttheplace“forever，“asshepassionatelydeclaredtoherself。Shewasinasadstatewhenshegothome，andwhentheoldergirlsarrived，sometimelater，anindignationmeetingwasheldatonce。Mrs。Marchdidnotsaymuchbutlookeddisturbed，andcomfortedherafflictedlittledaughterinhertenderestmanner。
　　Megbathedtheinsultedhandwithglycerineandtears，Bethfeltthatevenherbelovedkittenswouldfailasabalmforgriefslikethis，JowrathfullyproposedthatMr。Davisbearrestedwithoutdelay，andHannahshookherfistatthe`villain’andpoundedpotatoesfordinnerasifshehadhimunderherpestle。
　　NonoticewastakenofAmy’sflight，exceptbyhermates，butthesharp-eyeddemoisellesdiscoveredthatMr。Daviswasquitebenignantintheafternoon，alsounusuallynervous。Justbeforeschoolclosed，Joappeared，wearingagrimexpressionasshestalkeduptothedesk，anddeliveredaletterfromhermother，thencollectedAmy’sproperty，anddeparted，carefullyscrapingthemudfromherbootsonthedoormat，asifsheshookthatdustoftheplaceoffherfeet。
　　“Yes，youcanhaveavacationfromschool，butIwantyoutostudyalittleeverydaywithBeth，“saidMrs。Marchthatevening。
　　“Idon’tapproveofcorporalpunishment，especiallyforgirls。
　　I
　　dislikeMr。Davis’smannerofteachinganddon’tthinkthegirlsyouassociatewitharedoingyouanygood，soIshallaskyourfather’sadvicebeforeIsendyouanywhereelse。“
　　“That’sgood!Iwishallthegirlswouldleave，andspoilhisoldschool。It’sperfectlymaddeningtothinkofthoselovelylimes，“sighedAmy，withtheairofamartyr。
　　“Iamnotsorryyoulostthem，foryoubroketherules，anddeservedsomepunishmentfordisobedience，“wastheseverereply，whichratherdisappointedtheyounglady，whoexpectednothingbutsympathy。
　　“DoyoumeanyouaregladIwasdisgracedbeforethewholeschool？“criedAmy。
　　“Ishouldnothavechosenthatwayofmendingafault，“
　　repliedhermother，“butI’mnotsurethatitwon’tdoyoumoregoodthanamoldermethod。Youaregettingtoberatherconceited，mydear，anditisquitetimeyousetaboutcorrectingit。Youhaveagoodmanylittlegiftsandvirtues，butthereisnoneedofparadingthem，forconceitspoilsthefinestgenius。Thereisnotmuchdangerthatrealtalentorgoodnesswillbeoverlookedlong，evenifitis，theconsciousnessofpossessingandusingitwellshouldsatisfyone，andthegreatcharmofallpowerismodesty。“
　　“Soitis!“criedLaurie，whowasplayingchessinacornerwithJo。“Iknewagirlonce，whohadareallyremarkabletalentformusic，andshedidn’tknowit，neverguessedwhatsweetlittlethingsshecomposedwhenshewasalone，andwouldn’thavebelieveditifanyonehadtoldher。“
　　“IwishI’dknownthatnicegirl。Maybeshewouldhavehelpedme，I’msostupid，“saidBeth，whostoodbesidehim，listeningeagerly。
　　“Youdoknowher，andshehelpsyoubetterthananyoneelsecould，“answeredLaurie，lookingatherwithsuchmischievousmeaninginhismerryblackeyesthatBethsuddenlyturnedveryred，andhidherfaceinthesofacushion，quiteovercomebysuchanunexpecteddiscovery。
　　JoletLauriewinthegametopayforthatpraiseofherBeth，whocouldnotbeprevailedupontoplayforthemafterhercompliment。
　　SoLauriedidhisbest，andsangdelightfully，beinginaparticularlylivelyhumor，fortotheMarchesheseldomshowedthemoodysideofhischaracter。Whenhewasgone，amy，whohadbeenpensiveallevening，saidsuddenly，asifbusyoversomenewidea，“IsLaurieanaccomplishedboy？“
　　“Yes，hehashadanexcellenteducation，andhasmuchtalent。
　　Hewillmakeafineman，ifnotspoiledbypetting，“repliedhermother。
　　“Andheisn’tconceited，ishe？“askedAmy。
　　“Notintheleast。Thatiswhyheissocharmingandwealllikehimsomuch。“
　　“Isee。It’snicetohaveaccomplishmentsandbeelegant，butnottoshowofforgetperkedup，“saidAmythoughtfully。
　　“Thesethingsarealwaysseenandfeltinaperson’smannerandconversations，ifmodestlyused，butitisnotnecessarytodisplaythem，“saidMrs。March。
　　“Anymorethanit’spropertowearallyourbonnetsandgownsandribbonsatonce，thatfolksmayknowyou’vegotthem，“addedJo，andthelectureendedinalaugh。
　　“Girls，whereareyougoing？“askedAmy，comingintotheirroomoneSaturdayafternoon，andfindingthemgettingreadytogooutwithanairofsecrecywhichexcitedhercuriosity。
　　“Nevermind。Littlegirlsshouldn’taskquestions，“returnedJosharply。
　　Nowifthereisanythingmortifyingtooutfeelingswhenweareyoung，itistobetoldthat，andtobebiddento“runaway，dear“isstillmoretryingtous。Amybridledupatthisinsult，anddeterminedtofindoutthesecret，ifsheteasedforanhour。
　　TurningtoMeg，whoneverrefusedheranythingverylong，shesaidcoaxingly，“Dotellme!Ishouldthinkyoumightletmego，too，forBethisfussingoverherpiano，andIhaven’tgotanythingtodo，andamsolonely。“