After four seasons of being hooked on one stately home and well-spoken family， we present to you a guide to eating like a Downton Lady.

We consulted the UKs leading expert and consultant in etiquette and protocol， William Hanson， over one very fine afternoon tea to find out were holding our tea cups all wrong， there are rules to napkin sizes， and why dessert is NOT the sweet course that follows dinner.

《唐顿庄园》已播出了四季，它那豪华的庄园和谈吐文雅的家族让人着迷，为此我们给你提供一份像《唐顿庄园》里的淑女一样就餐的贴心指南。

我们一边喝着下午茶，一边就礼仪问题咨询了英国的顶级专家和顾问威廉·汉森，结果发现我们拿杯子的方式都错了。还有很多规矩，如餐巾的尺寸以及甜点并非晚餐正餐后甜点的原因。

Table posture

坐姿

Your back should never touch the chair. One must sit straight and bring the food to your mouth. No matter how crumbly the pastry is， never lean down to the dish. The only exception is when you drink soup —you can gently bow your head ever so slightly.

后背不要碰到椅子上。必须坐直把食物送入嘴中。无论糕点多么松脆易碎，也不要低头在盘子里吃。唯一的例外是喝汤的时候——这时你可以轻轻地低下头。

Napkin maths

餐巾的尺寸

There are sizes you know. Use a 17-20 inch napkin for lunch， a 12 inch napkin for tea， a 26 inch napkin for dinner and a 6-9 inch napkin for cocktails.

餐巾有很多尺寸。午饭时用17-20英寸的餐巾，下午茶时用12英寸的餐巾，晚饭时用26英寸的餐巾，鸡尾酒会上用6-9英寸的餐巾。

Consumption pace

吃饭的节奏

Loo breaks are unfortunately not an option. Most dinners will last an average of 2 hours so you will have to drink in moderation to prevent the need to go.

很遗憾，晚餐时一般不能去洗手间。大部分的晚餐都会持续两小时左右，所以你要适度饮食，以免中途需要去洗手间。

No compliments

不要恭维

You shouldnt pass comment on the food （because it was cooked by the chef not the Lady of the house）， on the way your host is dressed （because it was a given that she looked nice） or décor （it would give away your status if you were not used to fine interiors）.

不要赞美食物（因为食物是厨师做的，而不是女主人做的），也不要赞美主人的着装（因为默认她看上去不错）或屋内的装饰（如果你不习惯精美的室内环境，这会暴露你的地位）。

Seating plan

座位安排

Women dominate at Downton Abbey but traditionally guests would be seated in a boy-girl-boy-girl order. Married couples would be split because it was assumed they spent enough time with each other and engaged couples were sat together so that they could talk in a chaperoned setting.

《唐顿庄园》中以女士为主，但传统是宾客以男—女—男—女的顺序就座。已婚夫妇会被分开，因为通常认为他们待在一起的时间已够长了。订婚了的夫妇被安排坐在一起，这样他们可以在监护人的陪伴下交谈。

Suitable conversation

适宜的谈话

Never talk about money， work， sex， health， politics or religion on the table. The Dowager is a good regulator of this. Conversation at afternoon tea in particular should be light to go with the light meal.

不要在桌上谈论金钱、工作、性、健康状况、政治或宗教信仰。《唐顿庄园》中的老夫人就很会调整对话的节奏。下午茶的谈话尤其要适合便餐轻松的氛围。