Plead with Barnaby to be envious (8)
I believe the answer is:
begrudge
'be envious' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'plead with barnaby' is the wordplay.
'plead with' becomes 'beg' (I've seen this in another clue).
'barnaby' becomes 'rudge' (Barnaby Rudge is a Dickens novel).
'beg'+'rudge'='BEGRUDGE'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for begrudge that I've seen before include "Unwillingly allow" , "Envy, resent other's good fortune" , "Envy, resent having to give" , "Envy, be jealous of" , "Envy (someone) the enjoyment of" .)