It was found impossible to keep them safe at home , and , as the fever grew , these harmless maniacs invaded the sacred retreats where artists of the other sex did congregate , startling those anchorites with visions of large-eyed damsels bearing portfolios in hands delicately begrimed with crayon , chalk , and clay , gliding through the corridors hitherto haunted only by shabby paletots , shadowy hats , and cigar smoke . This irruption was borne with manly fortitude , not to say cheerfulness , for studio doors stood hospitably open as the fair invaders passed , and studies from life were generously offered them in glimpses of picturesque gentlemen posed before easels , brooding over master-pieces in `` a divine despair , '' or attitudinizing upon couches as if exhausted by the soarings of genius . An atmosphere of romance began to pervade the old buildings when the girls came , and nature and art took turns . There were peepings and whisperings , much stifled laughter and whisking in and out ; not to mention the accidental rencontres , small services , and eye telegrams , which somewhat lightened the severe studies of all parties . Half a dozen young victims of this malady met daily in one of the cells of a great art beehive called `` Raphael 's Rooms , '' and devoted their shining hours to modelling fancy heads , gossiping the while ; for the poor things found the road to fame rather dull and dusty without such verbal sprinklings . `` Psyche Dean , you 've had an adventure ! I see it in your face ; so tell it at once , for we are stupid as owls here to-day , '' cried one of the sisterhood , as a bright-eyed girl entered with some precipitation . `` I dropped my portfolio , and a man picked it up , that 's all . '' replied Psyche , hurrying on her gray linen pinafore . `` That wo n't do ; I know something interesting happened , for you 've been blushing , and you look brisker than usual this morning , '' said the first speaker , polishing off the massive nose of her Homer . `` It was n't anything , '' began Psyche a little reluctantly . `` I was coming up in a hurry when I ran against a man coming down in a hurry . My portfolio slipped , and my papers went flying all about the landing . 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 XXXXX , you have met your fate this day ! ''
Dean Rooms hours irruption peepings pinafore posy soarings sprinklings tea-roses