Her husband leaped up right behind her. “Let’s not, my dear. I’m afraid the radio will disrupt our conversation.” He reached for her hand to lead her back to her chair, but she shook him off.

“A little background music, Herman. Miriam is a musician. She might enjoy it.”

“Eloise, my love. It isn’t a good idea right now.” He reached for her again, but she shoved his hand aside, roughly this time, and gave him an angry glare. He looked helpless, as if he needed to stop her and didn’t know how. Ans couldn’t see how listening to music would do her any harm. The professor closed his eyes as if in pain as Eloise gave the knob a triumphant turn and the radio hummed to life. The announcer spoke English, so Ans didn’t know what he was saying, but his somber tone and rushed words told her that something terrible had happened.

The professor tried again. “See, Eloise? I don’t believe there’s going to be any music tonight —”

She swatted his hand away, listening intently. It seemed to take a moment for her to get the gist of it, but when she did, she stumbled backwards to the nearest chair as if stunned. “He’s talking about a war with Germany!” she said in astonishment.

“I had hoped to spare you and our guests the news. Please —”

“I want to know what’s happening, Herman!”

“Let me turn it off, my dear, and I will tell you.” He twisted the knob, silencing the spitting static and the announcer’s urgent jabber. Eloise didn’t stop him this time. “The Nazis invaded Poland the day before yesterday,” he told her in Dutch. “They’re bombing Warsaw. Hitler has broken the agreement he made in Munich with England and France, so both countries have declared war on Germany.”

“That’s how the last war began,” Eloise said. “Just as quickly, after that awful assassination.” She looked like a frightened child. Ans hurried over to kneel beside her chair, taking her hand to comfort her as she would her little sister, Maaike.

“Excuse me, please,” Miriam’s father said, “but could you tell us what has happened?”

Professor Huizenga removed his glasses and ran his hand over his face before sitting down. He repeated the news in German. Mr. Jacobs appeared shocked. Miriam covered her mouth as if to hold back a cry. They had seemed at peace only a moment ago. “What a terrible way to begin your first day in your new home,” Professor Huizenga said.

Miriam’s father cleared his throat. “And the Netherlands? What will this country do? Will they take sides with Hitler or with the others?”