Barbara was distressed. She must change the current of his thoughts. To do this she caught at the first thing that came into her head.
‘Papa! I will tell you what Mr. Coyshe was talking to me about. It is quite right, as you say, that you should know all; it is proper that nothing should be kept from you.’
‘It is hardly big enough,’ said Mr. Jordan.
‘What, papa?’
‘The dandelion. I can’t feel towards it as if it were Mr. Babb’s head.’
‘Papa,’ said Barbara, speaking rapidly, and eager to divert his mind into another channel, ‘papa dear, do you know that the doctor is much attached to our pet?’
‘It could not be otherwise. Everyone loves Eve; if they do not, they deserve to die.’
‘Papa! He told me as much as that. He admires her greatly, and would dearly like to propose for her, but, though I do not suppose he is bashful, he is not quite sure that she cares for him.’
‘Eve shall have whom she will. If she does not like Coyshe, she shall have anyone else.’