n Bruce's son, or else timely care
had rooted them out. And as he gradually relaxed his watch over the
young man, and left him more and more to his own guidance, Lord
Cairnforth, sitting alone in his house at St. Andrew's--almost as
much alone as he used to sit in the Castle library--would think, with
a strange consolation, that this year's heavy sacrifice had not been in
vain.

Once Cardross, coming in from a long golfing match, broke upon one of
these meditative fits, and was a little surprised to find that the earl
did not rouse himself out of it quite so readily as was his wont; also
that the endless college stories, which he always liked so much to
listen to, fell rather blank, and did not meet Lord Cairnforth's hearty
laugh, as gay as that of a young fellow could share and sympathize in
them all.

"You are not well to-day," suddenly said the lad. "What have you been
doing?"

"My usual work--nothing."

"But you have been thinking. What about?" cried Cardross, with the
affectionate persistency of one who knew himself a favorite, and looking
up in the earl's face with his bright, fond eyes--Helen's very eyes.

"I was thinking of your mother, my boy. You know it is a whole year
since I have seen your mother."

"So she said in her last letter, and wondered when you intended coming
home, because she misses you more and more every day."

"You, she means, Carr."

"No, yourself. I know my mother wishes you would come home."

"Does she? And so do I. But I should have to leave you alone, my boy;
for if once I make the effort, and return to Cairnforth, I know I shall
never quit it more."

He spoke earnestly--more so than the occasion seemed to need, and
there was a weary look in his eyes which struck his companion.

"Are you afraid to leave me alone, Lord Cairnforth?" asked Cardross,
sadly.

"No." And again, as if he had not answered strongly enough, he
repeated, "My dear boy, no!"

"Thank you. You never said it, but I knew. You came here for my sake,
to take charge of me. You made me happy--you never blamed me--you
neither watched me or domineered over me--still, I knew. Oh, how
good you have been!"

Lord Cairnforth did not speak for some time, and then he said, gravely,

"However things were at first, you must feel, my boy, that I trust you
now entirely, and that you and I are thorough friends--equal
friends."

"Not equal. On, never in my whole life shall I be half so good as you!
But I'l