"It is entailed; his nearest male relative inherits it." The delicacy which is easily discouraged was not one of the weaknesses in the nature of Francine.
"Do I understand that your father is dead ?" she asked.
Our thick-skinned fellow-creatures have the rest of us at their mercy: only give them time, and they carry their point in the end.

In sad subdued tones--telling of deeply-rooted reserves of feeling, seldom revealed to strangers--Emily yielded at last.
"Yes," she said, "my father is dead." "Long ago ?" "Some people might think it long ago.

I was very fond of my father.

It's nearly four years since he died, and my heart still aches when I think of him.

I'm not easily depressed by troubles, Miss de Sor.