Of course we both laughed and begged pardon , and I began to pick them up , but he would n't let me ; so I held the book while he collected the sketches . I saw him glance at them as he did so , and that made me blush , for they are wretched things , you know . '' `` Not a bit of it ; they are capital , and you are a regular genius , as we all agree , '' cut in the Homeric Miss Cutter . `` Never tell people they are geniuses unless you wish to spoil them , '' returned Psyche severely . `` Well , when the portfolio was put to rights I was going on , but he fell to picking up a little bunch of violets I had dropped ; you know I always wear a posy into town to give me inspiration . I did n't care for the dusty flowers , and told him so , and hurried away before any one came . At the top of the stairs I peeped over the railing , and there he was , gathering up every one of those half-dead violets as carefully as if they had been tea-roses . '' `` Psyche Dean , you have met your fate this day ! '' exclaimed a third damsel , with straw-colored tresses , and a good deal of weedy shrubbery in her hat , which gave an Ophelia-like expression to her sentimental countenance . Psyche frowned and shook her head , as if half sorry she had told her little story . `` Was he handsome ? '' asked Miss Larkins , the believer in fate . `` I did n't particularly observe . '' `` It was the red-headed man , whom we call Titian : he 's always on the stairs . '' `` No , it was n't ; his hair was brown and curly , '' cried Psyche , innocently falling into the trap . `` Like Peerybingle 's baby when its cap was taken off , '' quoted Miss Dickenson , who pined to drop the last two letters of her name . `` Was it Murillo , the black-eyed one ? '' asked the fair Cutter , for the girls had a name for all the attitudinizers and promenaders whom they oftenest met . `` No , he had gray eyes , and very fine ones they were too , '' answered Psyche , adding , as if to herself , `` he looked as I imagine Michael Angelo might have looked when young . '' `` Had he a broken nose , like the great Mike ? ''
XXXXX an irreverent damsel .
Had asked came frowned gathering observe peeped put shook taken