What is a southern, gentile society lady of impeccable taste, breeding, and education to do when her husband of nearly 20 years announces he is divorcing her on the day they deliver their youngest son to college? Loretta Hill Mason, head mistress of the Columbia Academy in South Carolina, did not see her husband's declaration coming and had no idea what she should do next. She couldn't just emulate Miss Scarlet and say "Fiddly dee, I'll think about...