"Pia, it's hard to tell you. I'm afraid of your great-uncle.... I want
to contact the planetary government."
"It's no good at Car Truro, Flinter. Can't you just come back to
Bidgrass Station and ... and ... do what Uncle Garth wants?"
He could barely hear the last. The fear was back in her eyes.
"Do you know what he wants?"
"Yes." The brown curls drooped.
Cole stood up. "So _that's_ the reason--well, I'll not do it, do you
hear? Garth Bidgrass is an evil, greedy old man and maybe it runs in
the blood."
She jumped up, eyes more angry now than fearful. "He is not! He's
trying to save you! He's good and noble and ... and _great_! If you
only knew the truth--Morwenna forgive me!" She clapped her hand to her
mouth.
"_Tell_ me the truth then, since I'm still being made a Belconti fool
of. What _is_ the truth?"
"I've said too much. Now I'll have to tell Uncle Garth--" She began
crying.
"Tell him what? That I know he's a liar? That you failed as a--" He
could not quite say the word.
"It's true I was supposed to make you love me and I tried and I can't
because ... because ..." she ended in incoherent sobbing.
Cole stroked her hair and comforted her. "I've been hasty again,"
he apologized. "I'm still running in the dark, and that makes for
stumbles. Let's go back, and I'll talk to your great-uncle again."
* * * * *
In the morning Garth Bidgrass, looking tired and stern, invited Cole
to breakfast with the family. Cole had never been in the large,
wood-panelled room overlooking the south garden through broad windows.
Pia was subdued, Mrs. Vignoli strangely cheerful. The meal, served by a
giant maid, was the customary plain porridge and fried meat.
The women left when the maid cleared the table. Bidgrass poured more
coffee, then leaned back and looked across at Cole.
"Mr. Cole, I did you a wrong in having you sent here. I kept you in the
dark for your own protection. Can you believe that?"
"I can believe that you believe it."
"You came too soon. You were too curious, too smart. I have had to
compound that wrong with others to Pia and my own good name."