It's dinnertime for the servants and after Anna mentions that her trip to London was pretty fruitless, Carson asks O'Brien if she might let them in on what she told Molesley. O'Brien, of course, doesn't know what he means, so Carson clarifies, whereupon O'Brien swivels her head in Molesley's direction. He may not be too bright, but some survival instinct tells him to look terrified, which I guess means there's hope for him. He says he thought Lady Cora would have already known that O'Brien is leaving, but before O'Brien can really work up a head of steam, Thomas asks if it isn't time for the dressing gong, and Carson confirms that. Before everyone breaks up though, O'Brien promises Molesley that she'll deal with him later, prompting this comment from Daisy: "You're in the soup. I wouldn't be in her bad books for a gold clock." Daisy, we have and will continue to have our disagreements, but I couldn't have said it better myself.

O'Brien has apparently tried to straighten out the situation, but Lady Cora thinks she must have said something to Molesley that he misinterpreted. O'Brien is like, the most words I've ever said to him at one time are "get out of the way" (her actual words), but Lady Cora is determined to play the victim, which seems odd, given how fiercely devoted O'Brien has been to her since her capricious decision ended any chance for a direct male Grantham heir. Any further recriminations, however, are interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Hughes and after Lady Cora dismisses O'Brien, she, without preface, tells Mrs. Hughes that she understands she's sick. Mrs. Hughes understandably is shocked, although she downplays everything, but does say it's not confirmed that she is, in fact, ill. Thinking that she's there to defend her job, Mrs. Hughes starts to go on that she's perfectly capable, but Lady Cora cuts her off to say one thing -- if she is ill, she's welcome to stay for as long as she likes and Sybil will aid in finding a suitable nurse. "I don't want you to have any concerns about where you'll go or who'll look after you, because the answer is here and we will." Aww. Mrs. Hughes looks like she doesn't dare believe Lady Cora's kindness, and as much as it seemed like a violation, you have to give Carson credit for judging his employers accurately.