# Mary Quince — Uncle Silas character guide > Mary Quince in Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mary, honest Mary Quince, Quince, Good Mary Quince, honest Mary, Polly, poor Quince, good old Mary Quince, Honest Mary, honest Quince, Mary Queence **First appearance:** 0003-volume-i-i-austin-ruthyn-of-knowl-and-his-daughter ## Snapshot Maud's devoted old maid, a timid, grumbling, utterly faithful presence who carries messages, warnings, and the quiet anxieties of Knowl into Bartram-Haugh. ## Who they are Mary Quince has served Maud since childhood and follows her into her uncle's guardianship, hovering at the edges of scenes with news, doubts, and her trademark complaints about the household's stinginess. Superstitious and easily frightened, she is nonetheless the one constant body between Maud and the strange servants and stranger silences of Bartram-Haugh. Her fretful loyalty makes her both comic relief and a barometer of danger, registering each new wrong before Maud herself will admit it. ## Relationships ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _professional_ Madame de la Rougierre treats Mary Quince, Maud's maid, with condescension and uses her as a tool for surveillance and manipulation. ### [Maud Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/maud_ruthyn) _professional_ Mary Quince is Maud's loyal and devoted maid, providing quiet companionship and protection despite her timidity. ### [Maud Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/maud_ruthyn) _professional_ Mary Quince is Maud's loyal and devoted maid, providing quiet companionship and protection despite her timidity. ### [Maud Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/maud_ruthyn) _professional_ Mary Quince is Maud's loyal and devoted maid, providing quiet companionship and protection despite her timidity. ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _professional_ Madame de la Rougierre treats Mary Quince, Maud's maid, with condescension and uses her as a tool for surveillance and manipulation. ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _professional_ Madame de la Rougierre treats Mary Quince, Maud's maid, with condescension and uses her as a tool for surveillance and manipulation. ## In the story ### [Uncle Silas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-ii-uncle-silas) Maud's maid, also silent about Uncle Silas after Austin's injunction. ### [III: A New Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-iii-a-new-face) Maud's maid, mentioned as being blamed by Mrs. Rusk for the walk with the visionary. ### [IV: Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-iv-madame-de-la-rougierre) Mary Quince is present in Maud's room and laughs at Mrs. Rusk's satirical description of the new governess. ### [Sights and Noises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-v-sights-and-noises) Maud's maid, who shares ghost stories and reports seeing a moving light from the library window, contributing to the eerie atmosphere. ### [IX: Monica Knollys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-ix-monica-knollys) Helped plan Maud's dress, described Captain Oakley to Maud as 'so 'ansom.' ### [X: Lady Knollys Removes a Coverlet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-x-lady-knollys-removes-a-coverlet) Mentioned as one who, along with Mrs. Rusk, warns Maud about the dangers of a stepmother. ### [XI: Lady Knollys Sees the Features](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xi-lady-knollys-sees-the-features) Confirmed as Maud's attendant; instructed by Lady Knollys to bolt the door at night. ### [A Curious Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xii-a-curious-conversation) Mary Quince is similarly mentioned as a servant who withholds information about Uncle Silas from Maud. ### [XV: A Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xv-a-warning) Briefly present in Maud's room during Lady Knollys' visit, then sent away so Lady Knollys can speak privately with Maud. ### [XVII: An Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xvii-an-adventure) Maud's maid, who tries to comfort her after the incident. ### [Arrivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxi-arrivals) Attends to Maud during her grief and helps with errands. ### [XXII: Somebody in the Room with the Coffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxii-somebody-in-the-room-with-the-coffin) Moves to the dressing-room adjoining Maud's room and joins Maud and Lady Knollys in listening to the mysterious sounds from the coffin room. ### [On the Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxx-on-the-road) Accompanies Maud as her maid; cries at leaving Knowl but later dries her tears and shares the journey with Maud. ### [XXXI: Bartram-Haugh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxxi-bartram-haugh) Mary accompanies Maud, disapproves of her spending money on the gypsy's pin, and helps unpack at Bartram. ### [XXXII: Uncle Silas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxxii-uncle-silas) Maud's maid; found dozing by the fire when Maud and Milly return from meeting Silas. ### [The Windmill Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxxiii-the-windmill-wood) Not directly present, but Maud's earlier mention of her 'conundrums' (drawing materials) implies her role as a servant. ### [III: A Midnight Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-iii-a-midnight-departure) Mary Quince is mentioned as being with Maud and is advised by Doctor Bryerly to stay. ### [V: In Which I Make Another Cousin's Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-v-in-which-i-make-another-cousin-s-acquaintance) Mary Quince is mentioned in Mrs. Rusk's letter as receiving love and good wishes. ### [A Friend Arises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-ix-a-friend-arises) Honest servant; greets Maud at the stairs and describes Uncle Silas's condition and the bleeding procedure. ### [Doctor Bryerly Reappears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xii-doctor-bryerly-reappears) Delivers the message summoning Maud to Uncle Silas's room. ### [XIV: An Apparition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xiv-an-apparition) Mary Quince sits by Maud during the night of supernatural terror. ### [XVI: Sarah Matilda Comes to Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xvi-sarah-matilda-comes-to-light) Mary Quince is present as Maud's companion and tries to protect her from the intruder, showing her characteristic loyalty and caution. ### [XVII: The Picture of a Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xvii-the-picture-of-a-wolf) Attends Maud and reports Dudley's departure. ### [An Odd Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xviii-an-odd-proposal) Mary Quince is present with Maud and offers her tea after the upsetting interview with Dudley. ### [In Search of Mr. Charke's Skeleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xix-in-search-of-mr-charke-s-skeleton) Mary Quince is present in Maud's room, knitting by the fire, and is frightened by Maud's talk of Mr. Charke's skeleton. She offers to accompany Maud but is told to stay. ### [XX: The Foot of Hercules](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xx-the-foot-of-hercules) Accompanies Maud on her walk and tries to reassure her. ### [I Conspire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxi-i-conspire) Maud's loyal maid, who is kept partially in the dark but agrees to help by keeping watch and not revealing the conspiracy. ### [XXIII: Lady Knollys' Carriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiii-lady-knollys-carriage) Present in Maud's room, she questions Madame's locking of the door but grudgingly acquiesces. ### [XXIV: A Sudden Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiv-a-sudden-departure) Mary ventures to Madame's room despite her fear, returns shaken, and later tearfully bids Maud farewell as she is left behind. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/mary_quince - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters