What that heartless elder brother was in his youth, he is still in his old age.

In all my unhappy experience of the worst side of human nature, I have never met with a man so utterly dead to every consideration of mercy as Michael Vanstone." "Do you mean that he takes the whole of his brother's fortune, and makes no provision whatever for his brother's children ?" asked Miss Garth.
"He offers a sum of money for present emergencies," replied Mr.Pendril, "so meanly and disgracefully insufficient that I am ashamed to mention it." "And nothing for the future ?" "Absolutely nothing." As that answer was given, the same thought passed, at the same moment, through Miss Garth's mind and through Norah's.

The decision, which deprived both the sisters alike of the resources of fortune, did not end there for the younger of the two.

Michael Vanstone's merciless resolution had virtually pronounced the sentence which dismissed Frank to China, and which destroyed all present hope of Magdalen's marriage.
As the words passed the lawyer's lips, Miss Garth and Norah looked at Magdalen anxiously.

Her face turned a shade paler--but not a feature of it moved; not a word escaped her.