English
"Thatboyisaperfectcyclops,isn'the?"saidAmyoneday,asLaurieclatteredbyonhorseback,withaflourishofhiswhipashepassed.
"Howdareyousayso,whenhe'sgotbothhiseyes?Andveryhandsomeonestheyare,too,"criedJo,whoresentedanyslightingremarksaboutherfriend.
"Ididn'tsayanythingabouthiseyes,andIdon'tseewhyyouneedfireupwhenIadmirehisriding."
"Oh,mygoodness!Thatlittlegoosemeansacentaur,andshecalledhimaCyclops,"exclaimedJo,withaburstoflaughter.
"Youneedn'tbesorude,it'sonlya'lapseoflingy',asMr.Davissays,"retortedAmy,finishingJowithherLatin.
"IjustwishIhadalittleofthemoneyLauriespendsonthathorse,"sheadded,asiftoherself,yethopinghersisterswouldhear.
"Why?"askedMegkindly,forJohadgoneoffinanotherlaughatAmy'ssecondblunder.
"Ineeditsomuch.I'mdreadfullyindebt,anditwon'tbemyturntohavetheragmoneyforamonth."
"Indebt,Amy?Whatdoyoumean?"AndMeglookedsober.
"Why,Ioweatleastadozenpickledlimes,andIcan'tpaythem,youknow,tillIhavemoney,forMarmeeforbademyhavinganythingchargedattheshop."
"Tellmeallaboutit.Arelimesthefashionnow?Itusedtobeprickingbitsofrubbertomakeballs."AndMegtriedtokeephercountenance,Amylookedsograveandimportant.
"Why,yousee,thegirlsarealwaysbuyingthem,andunlessyouwanttobethoughtmean,youmustdoittoo.
It'snothingbutlimesnow,foreveryoneissuckingthemintheirdesksinschooltime,andtradingthemoffforpencils,beadrings,paperdolls,orsomethingelse,atrecess.
Ifonegirllikesanother,shegivesheralime.
Ifshe'smadwithher,sheeatsonebeforeherface,anddoesn'tofferevenasuck.
Theytreatbyturns,andI'vehadeversomanybuthaven'treturnedthem,andIoughtfortheyaredebtsofhonor,youknow."
"Howmuchwillpaythemoffandrestoreyourcredit?"askedMeg,takingoutherpurse.
"Aquarterwouldmorethandoit,andleaveafewcentsoverforatreatforyou.Don'tyoulikelimes?"
"Notmuch.Youmayhavemyshare.Here'sthemoney.Makeitlastaslongasyoucan,foritisn'tveryplenty,youknow."
"Oh,thankyou!Itmustbesonicetohavepocketmoney!
I'llhaveagrandfeast,forIhaven'ttastedalimethisweek.
Ifeltdelicateabouttakingany,asIcouldn'treturnthem,andI'mactuallysufferingforone."
NextdayAmywasratherlateatschool,butcouldnotresistthetemptationofdisplaying,withpardonablepride,amoistbrown–paperparcel,beforesheconsignedittotheinmostrecessesofherdesk.
DuringthenextfewminutestherumorthatAmyMarchhadgottwenty–fourdeliciouslimes(sheateoneontheway)andwasgoingtotreatcirculatedthroughher'set',andtheattentionsofherfriendsbecamequiteoverwhelming.
KatyBrowninvitedhertohernextpartyonthespot.
MaryKinglseyinsistedonlendingherherwatchtillrecess,andJennySnow,asatiricalyounglady,whohadbaselytwittedAmyuponherlimelessstate,promptlyburiedthehatchetandofferedtofurnishanswerstocertainappallingsums.
ButAmyhadnotforgottenMissSnow'scuttingremarksabout'somepersonswhosenoseswerenottooflattosmellotherpeople'slimes,andstuck–uppeoplewhowerenottooproudtoaskforthem',andsheinstantlycrushed'thatSnowgirl's'hopesbythewitheringtelegram,"Youneedn'tbesopoliteallofasudden,foryouwon'tgetany."
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.Iamsorrythishashappened,butIneverallowmyrulestobeinfringed,andIneverbreakmyword.MissMarch,holdoutyourhand."
Amystarted,andputbothhandsbehindher,turningonhimanimploringlookwhichpleadedforherbetterthanthewordsshecouldnotutter.
Shewasratherafavoritewith'oldDavis',as,ofcourse,hewascalled,andit'smyprivatebeliefthathewouldhavebrokenhiswordiftheindignationofoneirrepressibleyoungladyhadnotfoundventinahiss.
Thathiss,faintasitwas,irritatedtheirasciblegentleman,andsealedtheculprit'sfate.
"Yourhand,MissMarch!"wastheonlyanswerhermuteappealreceived,andtooproudtocryorbeseech,Amysetherteeth,threwbackherheaddefiantly,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,asifsheshookthedustoftheplaceoffherfeet.
"Yes,youcanhaveavacationfromschool,butIwantyoutostudyalittleeverydaywithBeth,"saidMrs.Marchthatevening.
"Idon'tapproveofcorporalpunishment,especiallyforgirls.
IdislikeMr.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'tdoyoumoregoodthanaboldermethod.
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.
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