One Third of Childhood:
Three small girls play in the grass. They've slipped away from their nanny and are determined to enjoy themselves until she finds them.
Mary turns away from the other two. She leans down and cups her hands around an unsuspecting grasshopper. Straightening up, she launches the creature at Edith, who screams promptly and loudly.
Mary laughs so hard she can no longer hold herself upright. Edith swats the grasshopper away and jumps on it so it cannot attack her again. Sybil hugs Edith to comfort her.
Over Sybil's head, Edith mouths to Mary: I will get you back for this.
Two Thirds of Childhood:
Mary, Edith, and Sybil sit in a row with their governess staring sternly at each of them in turn. Mary and Edith are to be carrying on a conversation in French while little Sybil practices writing out her letters.
"Alright, girls, we'll pick up after luncheon," their governess says. The Crawley sisters rise from their seats; the youngest and oldest file out the door, but Edith lingers for a second. Ever so discreetly, she slips Sybil's inkwell from the table.
Edith falls into step behind Mary and carefully pours ink onto Mary's new dress.
Edith smiles with satisfaction.
Three Thirds of Childhood:
Four children remain as quiet as they can, hiding between some trees from a strict governess. The youngest tries a clumsy cartwheel and falls over, causing the boy to laugh.
"Hush, Patrick," Mary admonishes him. She's been ordering him around a lot lately, but he doesn't know why.
Sybil peeks out from behind a tree. "Oh, you hush, Mary, no one's around to find us."
Privately, Edith and Patrick both wonder how long Sybil will be free from Mary's orders and judgement. They don't know that it isn't Sybil's age that keeps her safe from Mary's taunts, but Sybil's actions.