And it certainly did seem a little provoking {'almost as if it happened on...

And it certainly did seem a little provoking {'almost as if it happened on purpose,' she thought} that, though she managed to pick plenty of beautiful rushes as the boat glided by, there was always a more lovely one that she couldn't reach.
"The prettiest are always further!" she said at last, with a sigh at the obstinacy of the rushes in growing so far off.