She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; ad had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early peroid. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
At the end of this paragraph, I am not sure about the meaning of " fallen little short of mother in affection". The meaning of fall short (of) is being inadequate, but as I read some translation in my native language, it has been translated as she being a very good mother. How can I understand this sentence exactly?