Just before school closed , Jo appeared , wearing a grim expression as she stalked up to the desk , and delivered a letter from her mother , then collected Amy 's property , and departed , carefully scraping the mud from her boots on the door mat , as if she shook the dust of the place off her feet . `` Yes , you can have a vacation from school , but I want you to study a little every day with Beth , '' said Mrs. March that evening . `` I do n't approve of corporal punishment , especially for girls . I dislike Mr. Davis 's manner of teaching and do n't think the girls you associate with are doing you any good , so I shall ask your father 's advice before I send you anywhere else . '' `` That 's good ! I wish all the girls would leave , and spoil his old school . It 's perfectly maddening to think of those lovely limes , '' sighed Amy , with the air of a martyr . `` I am not sorry you lost them , for you broke the rules , and deserved some punishment for disobedience , '' was the severe reply , which rather disappointed the young lady , who expected nothing but sympathy . `` Do you mean you are glad I was disgraced before the whole school ? '' cried Amy . `` I should not have chosen that way of mending a fault , '' replied her mother , `` but I 'm not sure that it wo n't do you more good than a bolder method . You are getting to be rather conceited , my dear , and it is quite time you set about correcting it . You have a good many little gifts and virtues , but there is no need of parading them , for conceit spoils the finest genius . There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long , even if it is , the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one , and the great charm of all power is modesty . '' `` So it is ! '' cried Laurie , who was playing chess in a corner with Jo . `` I knew a girl once , who had a really remarkable talent for music , and she did n't know it , never guessed what sweet little things she composed when she was alone , and would n't have believed it if anyone had told her . '' `` I wish I 'd known that nice girl . Maybe she would have helped me , I 'm so stupid , '' said Beth , who stood beside him , listening eagerly . `` You do know her , and she helps you better than anyone else could , '' answered Laurie , looking at her with such mischievous meaning in his merry black eyes that Beth suddenly turned very red , and hid her face in the sofa cushion , quite overcome by such an unexpected discovery .
Jo let Laurie win the game to pay for that praise of her XXXXX , who could not be prevailed upon to play for them after her compliment .
Amy Beth Davis Jo Laurie boots conceit danger evening limes