The War I Finally Won

Ada asks Susan about her deceased friend Becky, including where she is buried. Susan is clearly emotional about the topic, but despite the tears in her eyes, she answers Ada’s questions frankly. Maggie returns to boarding school, much to Ada’s disappointment.

Lady Thorton unexpectedly drops by and tells Susan that she will be moving into the cottage with them. The household is shocked at the news.

Lady Thorton explains that the government requested the use of Thorton house for wartime purposes and that she intends to move in with Susan, Ada, and Jamie. Ada is very hesitant about her moving in. Susan points out that Lady Thorton owns their cottage, so they have little choice.

When Lady Thorton moves in, she brings many furnishings and decorations with her. Ada feels unsettled by the changes, especially the ones Lady Thorton makes in Ada’s bedroom, which she fills with Maggie’s various beautiful belongings. Ada will now share her room with Maggie when Maggie visits from boarding school. Ada loves the idea of sharing with Maggie, but she is upset that she was not consulted about the many changes made to her bedroom.

Lord Thorton unexpectedly arrives with a “project” for Susan: She is to tutor a 16-year-old girl named Ruth to prepare her for Oxford entrance exams, and Ruth will live with them at the cottage too. Lady Thorton is shocked and appalled to learn that Ruth is German.

Lord Thorton tries to put the cottage occupants at ease by clarifying that Ruth is Jewish and that her family fled Germany at the beginning of the war. Her parents are in a British internment camp. Lady Thorton is unmoved; as far as she is concerned, “[a] German is a German is a German” (125). She is insulted that they would house and educate a German when their son Jonathan left his studies at Oxford to risk his life fighting the Nazis.

Lord Thorton insists on Ruth staying at the cottage, and Lady Thorton reluctantly houses her in the spare room. Ada is intrigued by Ruth, whom she perceives to be an enemy. She wonders why she is not in jail and is very uncomfortable with the idea of Ruth living with them.

Ruth explains to Ada that even though she is German, she is Jewish and therefore hates Hitler. Not knowing what a Jew is, Ada does not understand Ruth’s point and remains mistrustful.

Ada confides in Susan that no one is watching Ruth and that she might be a spy. Susan reassures Ada that she is not. Susan firmly instructs Ada to be polite and kind to Ruth. Lord and Lady Thorton leave the cottage for a walk, clearly arguing about Ruth’s presence.

Lord and Lady Thorton have not returned from their walk, so Susan, Jamie, Ada, and Ruth have dinner. Susan has to instruct the children to stop staring at Ruth. Ruth removes the pork sausage from her meal, explaining that as a Jew, she keeps a kosher diet. Jamie points out that they’re not supposed to waste food in wartime, so Ruth gives him her sausage pieces.

Susan explains to the confused children that Judaism is an ancient religion with dietary rules. Ada does not know what Judaism or Christianity are, and Ruth is shocked by her ignorance. Ada is astounded that Ruth does not believe in Jesus, having assumed that this was a shared factual belief. Susan patiently explains that people have different faiths and belief systems.