why would he? In all the examples listed, the people being left the property were married. Elderly Mr. Dashwood was not married and never had married. It's one thing to take care your own wife and children - it's another to take care of someone else's. Yes, they had been helpful and useful for the 10 years they had lived together. But still, the bottom line was, they weren't his wife and kids. The taking care of them would have to go to their dad. And he didn't live long enough to save up the money he had hoped to.