"How to grow up into a nice little girl," "How to pray to God," "How never to tell lies," "How to keep one's clothes clean,"-- these things did not interest Barbara in the least; but had she been given love with them she might have paid some attention.

But a too rigidly defined politics, a too rigidly defined religion find love a poor, loose, sentimental thing--very rightly so, perhaps.

Mrs.Flint was afraid that Barbara was a "silly little girl." "I hope, Miss Letts, that she no longer talks about her silly fancies." "She has said nothing to me in that respect for a considerable period, Mrs.Flint." "All very young children have fancies, but such things are dangerous when they grow older." "I agree with you." Nevertheless the fountain continued to flash in the sun, and births, deaths, weddings, love and hate continued to play their part in March Square.
II Barbara, groping about in the desolation of having no one to grope with her, discovered that her Friend came now less frequently to see her.

She was even beginning to wonder whether he had ever really come at all.

She had perhaps imagined him just as on occasion she would imagine her doll, Jane, the Queen of England, or her afternoon tea the most wonderful meal, with sausages, blackberry jam and chocolates.