On, never in my whole life shall I be half so good as you! But I'll try hard to be as good as I can.

And I shall be always beside you.

Remember your promise." This was, that after he came of age, and ended his university career, instead of taking "the grand tour," like most young heirs of the period, Cardross should settle down at home, in the character of of Lord Cairnforth's private secretary--always at hand, and ready in every possible way to lighten the burden of business which, even as a young man, the earl had found heavy enough, and as an old man he would be unable to bear.
"I shall never be clever, I know that," pleaded the lad, who was learning a touching humility, "but I may be useful; and oh! if you would but use me, in any thing or every thing, I'd work day and night for you -- I would indeed!" "I know you would, my son" (earl sometimes called him "my son" when they were by themselves), "and so you shall." That evening Lord Cairnforth dictated to Helen, by her boy's hand, one of his rare letters, telling her that he and Cardross would return home in time for the latter's birthday, which would be in a month from now, and which he wished kept with all the honors customary to the coming of age of an heir of Cairnforth.
"Heir of Cairnforth!" The lad started, and stopped writing.
"It must be so, my son; I wish it.

After your mother, you are my heir, and I shall honor you as such; afterward you will return here alone, and stay till the session is over; then come back, and live with me at the Castle, and fit yourself in every way to become--what I can now wholly trust you to be--the future master of Cairnforth." And so, as soon as the earl's letter reached the peninsula, the rejoicings began.

The tenantry knew well enough who the earl had fixed upon to come after him, but his was his first public acknowledgment of the fact.