Possible Clues:

• Commitment that may be shown by author at the start
• Commitment
• One addict, I fancy, could show this
• Daughter given schooling, one for university, showing commitment
• Devotion (to a task)
• 'To Dad -- nice one', possibly
• Commitment with which author often starts work
• Lecturer maintaining order without a single commitment
• Daughter recalled account in version of book tribute
• 'Lowly, with a broken neck, / The - lays her cheek to mine' (Meredith)