"What is the matter, cousin?" she said.
"Oh, dear!—oh, dear!—oh—oh—oh!"
"Are you ill?"
"No, but I only wonder as you ain't. Didn't I see you in Fleet-street with these here on?—oh!—oh!—not these here exactly, but another pair. These would be a trifle too large for you. Oh, dear-a-me! my heart bled all for to see such a young and delicate little puss as you a taking to wear the thingamies so soon."
Johanna now began to understand what Ben meant, namely, that he had seen her in Fleet-street disguised in male attire, with her young friend Arabella Wilmot.
"Oh, Ben," she said, "you must not think ill of me on that account."
"But—but," said Ben, rather hesitatingly, as if he were only putting a doubtful proposition, "wasn't it rather unusual?"
"Yes, Ben, but there were reasons why I put on such garments. Surely it was better to do so than—than—to—"
"Than to go without any?" said Ben.
"No—no, I did not say that—I mean it was better for me to forget a little of that maiden delicacy which—which—than to let him—"