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。