Teachers at the boarding-school had a quasiparental role.

The house was a big elaborate limestone affair, evidently new. Winter sunshine sparkled on lace-hung casement, on glass marquise, and the burnished bronze foliations of grille and door.

Next will be cheesemaking on Jan. 31, then creative cocktails on Feb. 7, coffee and cocoa on Feb. 14, and the basics of buying wine on Feb. 21.

Seated on the backbench of the courtroom, Emerald had mixed feelings.