His attachment to them all increased.

The constant attention of Mr.and Mrs.Henry Dashwood to his wishes, which proceeded not merely from interest, but from goodness of heart, gave him every degree of solid comfort which his age could receive; and the cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his existence.
By a former marriage, Mr.Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present lady, three daughters.

The son, a steady respectable young man, was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large, and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.

By his own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his wealth.

To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what might arise to them from their father's inheriting that property, could be but small.