human
He writes to me regularly, she said,
gpt
I asked her to look after Daddy when I went away, she said.
human
She has written to me about him, and I've been glad. I never thought what you think, darling. She has been almost like one of us. I don't think she can possibly think of him in that way, or he of her. There has been nothing in the letters of either of them to show it.
gpt
Well, he doesn't want me, anyhow, said Barbara.
human
Perhaps I'm jealous, but if there _were_ nothing else I don't see why she should put herself in my place.
gpt
Poor old pet! said Caroline, kissing her.
human
Daddy couldn't get you back again directly after you had come over here, to finish up. When you do get home you'll be just as much to him as B and I have been. You know he loves you just as much, but we are older and--
gpt
Oh, I'm not grumbling about that. He has always been perfectly sweet to me, and he hasn't realised that I'm no longer a child, any more than you did up to a little time ago. But I was so looking forward to taking your and B's place with him--I know I couldn't do it as well, but I should have tried--and now _she_ comes in to spoil it all. I hate her.
human
Why do you hate her, darling? Why have you never liked her as we have?
gpt
I don't know. It's just that I haven't. Perhaps a little because she has tried to make me. I didn't exactly hold out, but somehow I couldn't. I suppose I knew all the time that _this_ was in her.
human
Well, Barbara, darling, I don't think it's as you say; but supposing it were! We ought not to set ourselves against it, ought we?
gpt
What, our own Daddy! I think it would be horrible.
human
Why, darling?
gpt
I don't know why you don't like Ella, she said slowly.
human
You _are_ good at judging of people, I know--better than I am--but I think that I should have found it out by this time if there had been anything that one ought not to like in her. I can't see it if there is. I think I love her next best after the family. I do love her.
gpt
Would you love her if you thought she wanted to marry Dad?
human
Yes, I think perhaps I should love her all the more, though just at first perhaps I shouldn't like it--I mean I shouldn't like _anybody_ to marry him. It's difficult to say, before anything has happened; and I believe you are making a mistake too. But supposing she did, it _could_ only be because she really loved him. She has had plenty of offers of marriage.
gpt
So she says.
human
Oh, Barbara, darling! That's silly. She _is_ beautiful, and clever, and nice too. Even if you don't agree entirely with the rest of us in liking her, we all do like her. And I don't think even you have not liked her really, though you think now you haven't.
gpt
Well, go on.
human
How am I to go on? Don't you agree that she wouldn't marry him unless she loved him?
gpt
Oh, I suppose so; but it would be a silly sort of love, when he's so much older than she is.
human
Isn't that rather reflecting on him? Women do marry men a lot older than themselves, and love them devotedly. I'm sure darling Dad is worth any woman's love. He's so kind, and understanding. And he's very good-looking too, and not even elderly, as many men of his age are.
gpt
I can't imagine him falling in love, especially with somebody like her, who has been almost like we have to him.
human
Well, that's what makes it difficult to talk about. Perhaps he wouldn't. I can't take it for granted you are right. One can only look at it in a general sort of way; and if it did happen I don't think there would be--anything out of the way in it--certainly nothing _horrible_, as you say.
gpt
I suppose it's I who am rather horrid, she said.
human
I should be if there wasn't anything in it at all. But I'm almost certain there is, or I shouldn't have thought about it. Did you know that the moment you went away she went out for a walk with him?
gpt
Yes, she told me that, and that he was feeling frightfully depressed at losing me, and she hoped she had cheered him up. If that's all, Barbara, darling, I think you are making a great deal out of a very little. I asked her to look after him, myself. Of course I didn't mean any more than to be as she always has been.
human
I think you might have asked me to do that. I wanted to.
gpt
Oh, darling, she said,
human
I knew you would. I'd no idea of her taking your place. I know how glad he will be to have you back. And I'm going home now. I shall look after him myself.
gpt
Will you write and tell me what is happening?
human
Of course I will. Everything.
gpt
If _that_ is happening, shall you try to stop it?
human
What could I do to stop it?
gpt
You might remind Daddy that all his daughters haven't gone away from him yet. And Caroline, I wish you'd just say something--from yourself, I mean--about me being older, and that you liked having me to talk to and tell things to, after B was married. You did, you know, in the summer holidays. Daddy might see it if you said it about me--that I _could_ be a lot to him, I mean, if he wanted me. Of course you'd have to do it carefully.