Ada Smith

Ada Smith is the main character and narrator of this story. She is born with a clubfoot. Because she is embarrassed by her daughter, and wants to punish her, Ada's mother makes her stay in their one-room apartment. She abuses Ada and calls her a cripple.

Although she doesn’t have any formal education and no knowledge of the world outside her house, Ada has a good deal of common sense. After she makes Jamie cry by tying him up so he can’t leave the apartment, Ada realizes that she can’t act like her Mam. She decides instead to learn to walk so she can get to Jamie if he ever needs her.

When Ada learns her Mam is considering sending Jamie to the country, she sneaks out so she can go with him. Ada sees a girl riding a pony from the train as...