The War I Finally Won

Lord and Lady Thorton return from their walk, but there is still tension between them. The conflict makes Ada anxious. She looks up the words “Christianity,” “Judaism,” “Jew,” and “monotheistic” in her dictionary, but she is still confused. People in the village distrust Ruth and behave coldly toward Susan and Ada when they shop for groceries.

One day when Ruth is out on a walk, Jamie looks through her possessions to make sure she’s not a German spy. Susan is angry, but Ada is relieved. Ruth asks to accompany Ada to the stables, where she goes every day to ride Butter and do chores, but Lady Thorton does not want a German near her home or at her stables.

Jamie’s cast is removed. Ruth is interested in Ada’s limp and asks about her clubfoot, but Ada refuses to discuss it with her.

Ada is partnered with Lady Thorton to fire-watch. She reluctantly attends the shift with her and is once again terrified ascending the stairs and ladder to the steeple. Ada and Lady Thorton do not spot any planes. Ada is terrified of being so high up, and she is also very cold.

Lady Thorton shares a thermos of hot tea with Ada, and they discuss the joy they both feel in being useful.