# Mary Mason — The Mystery at Lilac Inn character guide > Mary Mason in The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mary, Mason **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-chance-meeting ## Snapshot A poor girl who suddenly buys fine dresses with cash and loses all interest in finding work, making her the mystery Nancy cannot quite dismiss. ## Who they are Mary Mason comes from a family with no money, yet a delivery man reports she is paying cash for finery and refusing the job Helen Corning suggested at Lilac Inn. She once seemed earnest when asking the Drews for work, but she flinched at the mention of Nancy's father, a criminal lawyer, and that memory nags at Nancy now. Her unexplained windfall and her absence from the inn's staff list make her a tantalizing false lead—or something more—in the book's middle chapters. ## Relationships ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/nancy_drew) _friendship_ Mary is Nancy's close friend and confidante, often assisting in her investigations. ### [Mrs. Jane Willoughby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/mrs_jane_willoughby) _professional_ Mary works as a maid or assistant for Mrs. Willoughby, leading to a strained subordinate relationship. ### [Bud Mason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/bud_mason) _family_ Bud is Mary's brother, and they share a close sibling bond. ### [Tom Tozzle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/tom_tozzle) _friendship_ Mary and Tom are friends and sometimes work together to help Nancy. ### [Captain Dudley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/captain_dudley) _professional_ Captain Dudley and Mary have a work-related connection, likely as employer or colleague at the inn. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/nancy_drew) _friendship_ Mary is Nancy's close friend and confidante, often assisting in her investigations. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/nancy_drew) _friendship_ Mary is Nancy's close friend and confidante, often assisting in her investigations. ### [Tom Tozzle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/tom_tozzle) _friendship_ Mary and Tom are friends and sometimes work together to help Nancy. ### [Mrs. Jane Willoughby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/mrs_jane_willoughby) _professional_ Mary works as a maid or assistant for Mrs. Willoughby, leading to a strained subordinate relationship. ### [Bud Mason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/bud_mason) _family_ Bud is Mary's brother, and they share a close sibling bond. ### [Captain Dudley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/captain_dudley) _professional_ Captain Dudley and Mary have a work-related connection, likely as employer or colleague at the inn. ### [Tom Tozzle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/tom_tozzle) _friendship_ Mary and Tom are friends and sometimes work together to help Nancy. ## In the story ### [A Queer Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/iii-a-queer-girl) A dark-complexioned girl with a sly look and excellent references, who becomes terrified upon learning Nancy's father is a lawyer and refuses the job. ### [X: An Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/x-an-encounter) Seen at Hidelberg's expensive dress shop attempting to buy a gown, which strikes Nancy as odd given her apparent financial circumstances. She is rude to Nancy when greeted. ### [XI: A Trip to the Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xi-a-trip-to-the-inn) Mary Mason is suspected by Nancy after being seen shopping in an expensive dress, but the manager of Lilac Inn confirms she never worked there. ### [XII: A New Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xii-a-new-discovery) Suspected by Nancy of being connected to the Crandall jewel theft; discovered to have forged a reference and to be well-dressed despite being out of work. ### [A Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xiii-a-surprise) Seen wearing a new silk dress, receiving multiple packages from Taylor's Store at a dilapidated house, paying cash. ### [XIV: New Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xiv-new-information) Suspected due to her sudden ability to buy expensive clothes despite being a domestic. ### [XV: What Mr. Drew Learned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xv-what-mr-drew-learned) Suspected of spending large sums on clothes despite having no job; her purchases include a $65 dress and other items totaling over $100. ### [The Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xvi-the-stranger) Though not present, Mary Mason is the focus of Nancy's investigation; the dropped envelope bearing the name 'Mason' strengthens Nancy's suspicion of a connection. ### [XVII: A Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xvii-a-crisis) Arrives by motorboat at the dilapidated house in Dockville with two men, confirming her suspicious activities. ### [During the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xviii-during-the-storm) Mary argues with Bud and Tom about splitting the loot, showing her involvement in criminal activities. ### [In the Storeroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xix-in-the-storeroom) Enters the storeroom to close a window, later confesses to stealing the Crandall jewels from Mrs. Willoughby at Lilac Inn, and argues with Tom Tozzle over shares. ### [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xx-a-prisoner) Mary coldly directs the others, suggests leaving Nancy to starve, and prepares food for the journey. ### [XXI: Down the River](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxi-down-the-river) Mary revels in Nancy's discomfort and boasts about the jewels, but becomes seasick and anxious as the storm intensifies. ### [Sinking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxii-sinking) She and Bud abandon Nancy in the cabin, refusing to cut her loose. They are apprehended on the dock. ### [Captured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxiii-captured) Captured after fleeing the motorboat, she denies Nancy's accusations and challenges her to produce the jewels. ### [The Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/chapters/xxiv-the-search) Angrily protests the search but is caught staring at the clock, leading Nancy to the hidden jewels; eventually confesses to the theft. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters/mary_mason - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_at_lilac_inn_se/characters