Hilda noticed a huge change in Ellen during the next months. They felt safe now that they’re away from the bombings in Battersea. They now woke up to the sound of birdsong instead of the scary air raid siren they used to hear back in Battersea. Hilda’s decision to move away from Battersea and live with Gertie in Somerset was definitely the right choice, because now Hilda and Ellen are in a much safer place and they’re not living constantly in a state of fear. There was only one school on the other side of the village, but Ellen was tutored by Gertie at home since the school was very far away. Ellen did miss the company of other children, but soon she was enamored with the countryside which shows us that Ellen can adapt quickly to the changing surroundings in any place. Ellen spent most of her time in the woods, she was exploring and learning new things about it. Ellen started to have a love for nature. She enjoyed all that she had to do in the woods which makes Ellen seem like an outdoor girl who is adventurous. Hilda kept in touch with her friend Mable by letters. Hilda was shocked by the news Mable had written in one of her letters. Mable wrote to Hilda that her house was damaged during a bombing raid, but she hadn’t been hurt. Mable also wrote that she was lucky to find a private landlord who offered her a flat in Clapham that was so far away and had barely been touched by bombs. The news that Mable wrote to Hilda made Hilda realize how lucky they were to have left Battersea. Hilda missed her husband Doug very much and he still haven’t written her anything which made her worry and pray that he was alive and well. After a while, Doug arrived from the navy to Somerset. Hilda and Ellen were so surprised and filled with zeal when they saw Doug. Gertie though, didn’t seem to be very happy to see Doug. Ellen knew that Gertie was going to sell one of the pigs in the village and got so angry and told Gertie that she should not sell it and was frightened by the thought of what would happen to the pig after it gets sold . In order for Gertie to be able to go to the village and not let Ellen notice when she was going to sell the pig, she had arranged a plan with Hilda and Doug. Hilda and Doug told Ellen that they should all go for a walk together and leave Gertie at home so she can finish all the work. When they were leaving, Doug was putting his arms around Hilda. Gertie used to think that her feelings toward Hilda were only sisterly, but her feelings started to change once she reached puberty thus it made her uncomfortable to see Doug putting his arms on Hilda. When Ellen came back from the walk with her parents she knew that the pig was gone and that Gertie has selled it. Ellen got so angry and told Gertie that she was so mean and that she hated her. Soon Ellen’s angry feeling towards Gertie was gone after she received a gift from Gertie. The gift was a kitten and Ellen totally loved it. Gertie couldn’t wait for Doug to leave. She had a great feeling of jealousy towards Doug and couldn’t bear the thought of him staying for few more days. Doug was leaving now, Gertie thought it was irritating to see Hilda clung to him with tears in her eyes, but touching to see Ellen doing the same. Hilda hated her life in Somerset. She couldn’t wait till the war was over so she and Ellen can go back to Battersea. Ellen and Hilda had opposite feelings about their lives in Somerset. While Hilda couldn’t bear the thought of living in Somerset, Ellen loved it and hoped that they would never leave. It wasn’t too long after Doug arrived again from the navy. Doug had noticed how Gertie is not pleased to see him again and told Hilda of what he felt towards Gertie’s actions. Hilda told Doug that Gertie’s feeling s towards her are only sisterly, but Doug did not agree and then Hilda got really mad at Doug. This shows how much Hilda trusted Gertie although the truth is, Gertie did have feelings for Hilda. Soon Hilda forgave Doug, because she thought that he had been through a lot of hardships in the navy. And now again, it was time for Doug to leave. Gertie dropped Doug at the train station in Crewkerne. Hilda now couldn’t stop thinking of going back to London and she thought that no matter what, she and Ellen had to go back. Hilda got so sick and she was moved to the hospital. With the help of the villagers, Hilda soon recovered. Gertie used to hate all the villagers, but after they helped her and Hilda, she started to think that they were very nice people, but she still wasn’t sure that she wanted any more “instructions” from the villagers into her life. Gertie’s father’s instructions early in her life made her not like her father very much and drove her to become so closed and away from people and that’s why she didn’t feel so sure if her blending in more with the villagers was a good idea.
