Mrs. Hughes is supposed to be so smart. Couldn't she see where showing it to Mary would lead? If she had to share it with someone (and I don't buy that she wouldn't have been able to keep quiet about it, she does on so many other things), why not pick someone she could probably control, like her friend Mrs. Patmore?…

Because they were being paid. Because, according to Edith there was not necessarily an agreement that it was a forever deal. Because, if they did see Edith at all, they should have realized that she was torn up about it and could change her mind. They were probably picked because they were convenient and safe, not…

The adoptive parents may not be all that emotionally invested. Edith & her aunt talked about how they would be paying them. Edith also said something about there was no agreement (or written agreement or something like that). She seemed to me to be implying that she wouldn't be out of line to take the child back. …

The one thing about the episode that I could not believe was that Mrs. Hughes would find the ticket stub, instantly know what it means and then immediately take it to Mary. Then she immediately pleads with Mary not to do anything about it. Why oh why did she give it to her in the first place!!