Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess and Matthew Crawley in “Unfinished Business”

No doubt you will regard this as rather unorthodox, my pushing into a man's bedroom, uninvited.

Matthew Crawley

Well, um...

It's just I don't want us to be disturbed. [she sits down] I'm sure you know how pleased I am that you will recover after all.

Matthew Crawley

Thank you.

Just as I am delighted that you can once more look forward to a...to a happy married life.

Matthew Crawley

I'm very lucky.

Now, this may come as a surprise but I feel I must say it all the same.

Matthew Crawley

Please do.

Mary is still in love with you.

Matthew Crawley

What?

I was watching her the other night when you spoke of your wedding. She looked like Juliet on awakening in the tomb.

Matthew Crawley

Mary and I have always had...

Of course, I suspected long ago that the flame hadn't quite gone out. But then there was no chance of your recovery, and it seemed best to let her try for happiness where she could.

Matthew Crawley

I quite agree, and Sir Richard is...

No, now let's not muddy the pool by discussing Sir Richard. The point is you loved her once. Are you sure you can't love her again?

Matthew Crawley

Cousin Violet, please don't think I mind your speaking to me in this way. I quite admire it. But consider this: Lavinia came back, against my orders, determined to look after me for the rest of my life, which meant that she would wash me and feed me and do things that only the most dedicated nurse would undertake, and all with no hope of children or any improvement.

Yes, yes, it's all very admirable. And I give her full credit.

Matthew Crawley

And giving her that credit, do you think it would be right for me to throw her over because I can walk? To dismiss her because I no longer have need of her services?

Spoken like a man of honor, and we will not fall out over this.

Matthew Crawley

But you don't agree.

I would just say one thing. Marriage is a long business. There's no getting out of it for our kind of people. Now, you may live 40, 50 years with one of these two women. Just make sure you have selected the right one.