But he is still alive.

Nobody can help him; that has been tried a thousand times; he was not abandoned by all without good cause, I know.' 'Cannot she be persuaded to--' Nicholas hesitated when he had got thus far.
'To leave him ?' said brother Charles.

'Who could entreat a child to desert her parent?
Such entreaties, limited to her seeing him occasionally, have been urged upon her--not by me--but always with the same result.' 'Is he kind to her ?' said Nicholas.

'Does he requite her affection ?' 'True kindness, considerate self-denying kindness, is not in his nature,' returned Mr Cheeryble.

'Such kindness as he knows, he regards her with, I believe.