"Source and Root" Summary

It brightens as Ada and Ruby walk to town, Ruby remarking all the way about birds. She tells of eating pigeons when she was left to fend for herself and defends crows as a witty, adaptable, and masterful species, despite their reputation. Ruby hopes to pull Ada out of a dark mood brought on by a week of hard work gathering hay. The outing will let Ruby buy ammunition for hunting turkey and deer and let Ada look for books and drawing materials. Ada buys Adam Bede. After lunch, they stop at Mrs. McKennet's, a wealthy widow friend of Monroe's friend when it became clear she could be no more to him. She has the servants make ice cream, which Ruby has never tasted. McKennet speaks of war as glorious, tragic, heroic, and noble, and believes an...