[INT. GREAT HALL - DAY]

　　[Mrs Hughes takes a breath and then approaches Major Bryant who is sitting down to cards.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Major, might I have a word?

　　[The Major makes a "yeesh! what could that be?" expression to his friends and follows her to the front hall.]

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　What is it?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I have something for you.

　　[Byrant looks at the handwriting of his name on the letter she holds out, but doesn't take it.]

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　Thank you.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　I wish you would read it.

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　Do you know who wrote it?

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Yes, I do. And I know how anxious she is for an answer.

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　All due respect, I don't beliebe it's any of your concern.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　If you'd only s--

　　[She waits for a nurse to pass out of earshot.]

　　MRS HUGHES

　　If you'd only see the child. He's a lovely wee chap.

　　MAJOR BRYANT

　　Mrs Hughes, the last thing I'd wish to be is rude, but in this case, I really must be left to my own devices. Now, I'll say goodbye. It's time I was making tracks.

　　MRS HUGHES

　　Goodbye then, Major.

　　[INT. CARLISLE'S NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY]

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　Who'd've thought it? The cold and careful Lady Mary Crawley. Well, we know better now. I'm surprised you haven't given me some extenuating circumstances.

　　LADY MARY

　　I have none. I was foolish, and I was paid out for my folly.

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　And when I've saved you - if I can - do you still expect me to marry you, knowing this?

　　LADY MARY

　　It's not for me to say.

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　Of course, we both know that if we marry, people - your people - will think you've conferred a great blessing on me. My house will welcome the finest in the land, my children will carry noble blood in their veins. But that won't be the whole story, will it? Not anymore.

　　[Mary stands up.]

　　LADY MARY

　　Sir Richard, if you think it pains me to ask this favour, you'd be right. But I have no choice if I am not to be an object of ridicule and pity. If you wish to break off our understanding, I'll accept your decision. After all, it's never been announced. We may dissolve it with the minimum of discomfort.

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　Forgive me, I don't mean to offend you. I'm simply paying you the compliment of being honest. No, in many ways, if I can manage to bring it off, this will mean we come to the marriage on slightly more equal terms. I think that pleases me.

　　LADY MARY

　　So you'll do it?

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　I'll try to do it, yes.

　　LADY MARY

　　You must act fast.

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　I'll send a card for her as soon as you've left.

　　LADY MARY

　　Please let me know what it costs. I'll find a way to reimburse you.

　　[Richard takes her hand.]

　　SIR RICHARD CARLISLE

　　Nevermind that. As my future wife, you're entitled to be in my debt.

　　[INT. LIBRARY - DAY]

　　MR CARSON

　　We've a bit of a conundrum, my lord. As you may know, we're short of a housemaid. We've had an application from a local woman Jane Moorsum, but she's married and she has a child, a son.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, surely her husband should be--

　　MR CARSON

　　She's a widow, my lord. The late Mr Moorsum died on the Somme. There's no other earner, so she has to look for work. I said I would ask you.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, if Mrs Hughes agrees, I think we must do what we can for the widows of our defenders.

　　MR CARSON

　　Very good, Your Lordship.

　　[Cora enters as Carson's leaving.]

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　What was that?

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　We're taking on a new maid.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　He should've talked to me, not you.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　Well, they thought you were too busy to be bothered with it.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　I am busy. And that reminds me, I can come with you to the Townsends. You'll have to make some excuse.

　　ROBERT, EARL OF GRANTHAM

　　But we gave them the date.

　　CORA, COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM

　　You'll think of something.