Least of all such a mother as he had in your dear lady.
But he's a boy, sir, and not a girl, and in all reason a father is what he'll chiefly look to in a year or two.

And for the meanwhile, sir, I ask you, could Master Reginald look better or behave better than he did afore the company come?
It's only natural as smart ladies who knows nothing whatever of children, and how they should be brought up, and what's for their good, should think it a kindness to spoil them.

Any one may see the lady has no notion of children, and would be the ruin of Master Reginald if she had much to do with him; but when the company's gone, sir, and he's left quiet with his papa, you'll find him as good as any young gentleman needs to be, if you'll excuse my freedom in speaking, sir." Whatever my father thought of Mrs.Bundle's freedom of speech, he only said, "Master Reginald will be quite under your orders for the future, Nurse," and so dismissed her.
And Mrs.Bundle having "said her say," withdrew to say it over again in confidence to the housekeeper.
As for me, if my vanity was stronger than my good taste for a while, the quickness of childish instinct soon convinced me that Miss Burton had no real affection for me.

Then I was puzzled by her spasmodic attentions when my father was in the room, and her rough repulses when I "bothered" her at less appropriate moments.

I got tired of her, too, of the sound of her voice, of her black hair and unchanging red cheeks.