Downton Abbey, Series 2

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
No doubt you will regard this as rather unorthodox, my pushing into a man's bedroom, uninvited.

Matthew Crawley:
Well, um...

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
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.

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
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.

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
Now, this may come as a surprise but I feel I must say it all the same.

Matthew Crawley:
Please do.

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
Mary is still in love with you.

Matthew Crawley:
What?

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
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...

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
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...

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
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.

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
Yes, yes, it's all very admirable. And I give her full credit.

Matthew:
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?

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
Spoken like a man of honor, and we will not fall out over this.

Matthew Crawley:
But you don't agree.

Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess:
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.