Mary: Are you looking for something?

 

Carson: Lady Mary? I just wanted to make sure the room had been tidied up after the...after the people had left.

 

Mary: Life can be terribly unfair, can't it?

 

Carson: It certainly can.

 

Mary: Everything seems so golden¹ one minute, then turns to ashes the next. Can I ask you a question, Carson? Have you ever felt your life was somehow slipping² away and there was nothing you could do to stop it?

 

Carson: I think everyone feels that at one time or another.

 

Mary: The odd³ thing is I feel, for the first time, really, I understand what it is to be happy. It's just I know that I won't be.

 

Carson: Oh, don't say that, My Lady. Don't raise the white flag quite yet. You'll still be mistress⁴ of Downton. Old Lady Grantham hasn't given up the fight, not by a long chalk.

 

Mary: Oh, that...I wasn't even thinking about that.

 

Carson: And if I may say so, My Lady, you're still very young.

 

Mary: Am I? I don't feel it.

 

Carson: We're all behind you, My Lady. The staff. We're all on your side.

 

Mary: Thank you, Carson. You've always been so kind to me. Always. From when I was quite a little girl. Why is that?

 

Carson: Even a butler has his favourites, My Lady.

 

Mary: Does he? I'm glad.

 

Anna: Lady Mary. Oh, My Lady, I thought...

 

Mary: Carson and I were just making sure that everything was ship-shape and Bristol fashion. And it is.

 

 

Everything seems so golden one minute, then turns to ashes the next: 一切本是那么美好，忽然间就灰飞烟灭。

 

at one time or another: 曾经，早晚

 

raise the white flag: 投降，放弃。这里Carson的意思是：别轻言放弃。

 

not by a long chalk: (英国口语）绝不，相当于not at all, not by any means⁵

 

We're all behind you: 我们都支持你，我们都跟你一条心。

 

ship-shape: 有条不紊；井井有条的

 

Bristol fashion: 井然有序

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