] "Your sister taught me; I cannot tell how. Mrs. Allen used to take pains, year after year, to make me like them; but I never could, till I saw them the other day in Milsom Street; I am naturally indifferent about flowers."

My first impression was that she was appreciating the flowers through new, more adultlike, eyes, with an able assist from a sought-after companion (who happens to have a most interesting brother). She was indifferent when Mrs. Allen tried to "make" her like them, but perhaps Catherine was eager to learn to love anything Eleanor might teach her. Maybe now she has an incentive to overcome her indifference?