`` But these people , '' she went on , `` did not know that they were doing wrong : they were only stupid and impatient ; and therefore I only punish them till they become patient , and learn to use their common sense like reasonable beings . But as for chimney-sweeps , and collier-boys , and nailer lads , my sister has set good people to stop all that sort of thing ; and very much obliged to her I am ; for if she could only stop the cruel masters from ill-using poor children , I should grow handsome at least a thousand years sooner . And now do you be a good boy , and do as you would be done by , which they did not ; and then , when my sister , MADAME DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY , comes on Sunday , perhaps she will take notice of you , and teach you how to behave . She understands that better than I do . '' And so she went . Tom was very glad to hear that there was no chance of meeting Grimes again , though he was a little sorry for him , considering that he used sometimes to give him the leavings of the beer : but he determined to be a very good boy all Saturday ; and he was ; for he never frightened one crab , nor tickled any live corals , nor put stones into the sea anemones ' mouths , to make them fancy they had got a dinner ; and when Sunday morning came , sure enough , MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY came too . Whereat all the little children began dancing and clapping their hands , and Tom danced too with all his might . And as for the pretty lady , I can not tell you what the colour of her hair was , or , of her eyes : no more could Tom ; for , when any one looks at her , all they can think of is , that she has the sweetest , kindest , tenderest , funniest , merriest face they ever saw , or want to see . But Tom saw that she was a very tall woman , as tall as her sister : but instead of being gnarly and horny , and scaly , and prickly , like her , she was the most nice , soft , fat , smooth , pussy , cuddly , delicious creature who ever nursed a baby ; and she understood babies thoroughly , for she had plenty of her own , whole rows and regiments of them , and has to this day . And all her delight was , whenever she had a spare moment , to play with babies , in which she showed herself a woman of sense ; for babies are the best company , and the pleasantest playfellows , in the world ; at least , so all the wise people in the world think . And therefore when the children saw her , they naturally all caught hold of her , and pulled her till she sat down on a stone , and climbed into her lap , and clung round her neck , and caught hold of her hands ; and then they all put their thumbs into their mouths , and began cuddling and purring like so many kittens , as they ought to have done . While those who could get nowhere else sat down on the sand , and cuddled her feet -- for no one , you know , wear shoes in the water , except horrid old bathing-women , who are afraid of the water-babies pinching their horny toes . And Tom stood staring at them ; for he could not understand what it was all about . `` And who are you , you little darling ? '' she said . `` Oh , that is the new baby ! '' they all cried , pulling their thumbs out of their mouths ; `` and he never had any mother , '' and they all put their thumbs back again , for they did not wish to lose any time . `` Then I will be his mother , and he shall have the very best place ; so get out , all of you , this moment . '' And she took up two great armfuls of babies -- nine hundred under one arm , and thirteen hundred under the other -- and threw them away , right and left , into the water . But they minded it no more than the naughty boys in Struwelpeter minded when St. Nicholas dipped them in his inkstand ; and did not even take their thumbs out of their mouths , but came paddling and wriggling back to her like so many tadpoles , till you could see nothing of her from head to foot for the swarm of little babies .
But she took Tom in her arms , and laid him XXXXX the softest place of all , and kissed him , and patted him , and talked to him , tenderly and low , such things as he had never heard before in his life ; and Tom looked up into her eyes , and loved her , and loved , till he fell fast asleep from pure love .
as at by except in so than till to with