He would never be as much of a child again, but he was more of a child than he had been yesterday.
His mother also had been instrumental towards replacing him in his old ways.

Ann, after her day of crushed apathy, aroused herself somewhat.

When the Squire, the lawyer, and Doctor Prescott came the next morning, she kept them waiting outside while she put on her best cap.

She had a view of the road from her rocking-chair, and when she saw the three gentlemen advancing with a slow curve of progress towards her gate, which betokened an entrance, she called sharply to Elmira, who was washing dishes, "Go into the bedroom and get my best cap, quick," at the same time twitching off the one upon her head.
When poor little Elmira turned and stared, her pretty face quite pale, thinking her mother beside herself, she made a fierce, menacing gesture with her nervous elbow, and spoke again, in a whisper, lest the approaching guests hear: "Why don't you start?
Take this old cap and get my best one, quick!" And the little girl scuttled into the bedroom just as the first knock came on the door.

Ann kept the three dignitaries waiting until she adjusted her cap to her liking, and the knocks had been several times repeated before she sent the trembling Elmira to admit them and usher them into the best parlor, whither she followed, hitching herself through the entry in her chair, and disdainfully refusing all offers of assistance.