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。“