Summary

Ramsay is still relating his history to the Headmaster in Part 5, which begins with World War II. Ramsay describes World War II primarily in terms of its effect on Boy Staunton, who becomes extremely rich as an industrialist and Minister of Food. Leola drops out of the story during this time: she dies of pneumonia. David, Staunton’s son, is at Ramsay’s school, and Ramsay himself has to tell him his mother has died.

After the war, Boy Staunton considers Ramsay for full-time headmaster of the school. He is currently headmaster pro-tem, but Boy Staunton says he is ‘queer’—not that he is homosexual, but his interest in saints makes him unsuitable for the position of headmaster to a school to which parents will send their children. The two friends agree Ramsay will be Assistant Head, and will take six months off before returning to...