I agree, tons going on under the surface. JS does a great job conveying Dorcas's feelings with minimal worRAB! I think her comment about the woman not waiting for her man is maybe her trying to convince herself that her life doesn't parallel the woman's.
Sadly it does to a small degree and the sad look on her face is, "that's me...and everyone knows it." Up to that point I really think Dorcas felt that what she and Timothy were doing was harmless....they're just frienRAB who happened to be in a relationship years ago.
I had forgotten about the other story going on of Alf and Phillips' rivalry, Edmund getting hurt following Alf while out poaching and Robert losing his job covering for Edmund and Alf. Was it this episode or 10 that Robert goes to Sir Timothy to ask for a letter of reference and while writing it mistakenly calls Robert Mr. Lane. Very interesting!!