Illness can bring about different responses in people, which may appear very contrary to their usual character. The personality change relies on empathy for whomever is ill (or the carer), the relation and how the person is perceived to the other. So if someone you were really fond of, for example, fell ill you'd probably be really protective, right.
Yeh, if you haven't seen all of Downton and considered each character from each other characters' perspective you may get the wrong idea about some of them but I hope this intro clarifies that they are truly all genuine nice people. They're just them. It's not their fault (it's Lord Julian Fellowes'), it's for comedic purposes. Come on, there's got to be some poetic license around here, no?
Sorry, really long intro again. You don't have to read them y'know.
~pureclass
Only at 10'00 had Sybil been fetched – for her nursing expertise – and it had been her who had suggested retrieving the new maid. First impressions weren't everything, and she so dearly wanted everyone to get along. Plus, both she and Anna would most likely be needed given the circumstances. Formal introductions were skipped as Sybil, donned in her respectably-flattering and not quite startlingly striking nurses' uniform, brushed through the door with Tom close behind and the others trailing. "This is…" she left the gap to be filled,
"Mrs Williams," Amy entered her working name,
"The new maid." Sybil finished.
Everybody turned and smiled, several were forced or neutral, but most of the family were just genuinely happy to see life and to welcome her.
"Here," Lord Grantham asserted his authority in being the first to speak, and in being the one to ask such a favour that followed, "could you fetch the Doctor for us? Mrs Crawley and Nurse," he paused and winced before continuing. Sybil and Tom turned and smiled at each other lovingly. It's not that her father being uncomfortable pleased her but she was happy. As she slipped her tender, delicate hand into the slightly course from hard labour of her husband's she turned back to see her father sigh and smile, glad that he was adjusting, "…Branson, have been a great help but some expert medical advice would be well sought, and recommended no doubt." He finished, turning his head slightly to Cousin Isobel in search of approval, which he received in the form of her interjection;
"Yes, Mrs Wilburton," but before she could finish in her altogether self-supposed superior tone and angle, Amy butted in in her fierce Scottish drawl, correcting the self-centred and possibly superficial Mrs Crawley in such a remarkably gormless and naïve fashion it could be described as dangerous.
"Williams. My name is Mrs Williams." She said, over-emphasising the word both times and exaggerating her annoyance at the mistake in both her expression and body.
As much as Mrs Crawley looked insulted, Sybil just politely asked – despite its form as a command – for Amy to fetch Dr Clarkson or 'anyone else available' from the village hospital. As she left, Anna stepped further into the room and joined the family at Mary's bedside.