第13章

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。“