Summary

Shortly before Christmas, Gina notices that her classmate Bánki looks distraught. She writes to Abigail for help, and receives a packet of baptismal certificates for Bánki and three other girls, in addition to a note telling her to give them the certificates. The documents certify Bánki, Krieger, Zelemér and Kun, as well as their families, as belonging to the Reformed Protestant Church. The narrator implies that Bánki and the others were Jewish, and that Abigail’s forged documents saved their lives. The Matula hosts a Bible-knowledge competition, in which Bánki places first and Gina last. With the exception of Gina and Torma, all of the students head home for the Christmas holiday.

Torma and Gina grow very close during the holiday and exchange gifts. While attempting to sneak a phone call to her father, Gina overhears a...