Meg bathed the insulted hand with glycerine and tears , Beth felt that even her beloved kittens would fail as a balm for griefs like this , Jo wrathfully proposed that Mr. Davis be arrested without delay , and Hannah shook her fist at the ` villain ' and pounded potatoes for dinner as if she had him under her pestle . No notice was taken of Amy 's flight , except by her mates , but the sharp-eyed demoiselles discovered that Mr. Davis was quite benignant in the afternoon , also unusually nervous . 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 XXXXX , who stood beside him , listening eagerly .
Amy Beth Davis Hannah Jo Laurie Meg conceit evening limes