# Mrs. Rusk — Uncle Silas character guide > Mrs. Rusk in Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** good old Mrs. Rusk, honest Mrs. Rusk, good Mrs. Rusk, Good Mrs. Rusk, XIX Au Revoir Mrs. Rusk, Rusk, Mrs. Rusk **First appearance:** 0015-volume-i-xiii-before-and-after-breakfast ## Snapshot Knowl's blunt, warm-hearted housekeeper, whose long service to the Ruthyns makes her both Maud's protector and the keeper of family gossip. ## Who they are Mrs. Rusk runs the household at Knowl with a plainspoken competence and a fierce, almost maternal attachment to Maud, grumbling freely about stingy allowances and dubious arrangements. She distrusts Silas and his people from the start, and her sharp tongue gives voice to suspicions that Maud is too loyal or too innocent to speak aloud. When Maud is sent away to Bartram-Haugh, Mrs. Rusk's absence becomes a palpable loss, and her warnings linger as one of the story's earliest signals that all is not well. ## Relationships ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _professional_ Madame de la Rougierre interacts with Mrs. Rusk, the housekeeper, as a fellow servant but uses her position to exert control and gather information. ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _professional_ Madame de la Rougierre interacts with Mrs. Rusk, the housekeeper, as a fellow servant but uses her position to exert control and gather information. ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _professional_ Madame de la Rougierre interacts with Mrs. Rusk, the housekeeper, as a fellow servant but uses her position to exert control and gather information. ## In the story ### [Austin Ruthyn, of Knowl, and His Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-i-austin-ruthyn-of-knowl-and-his-daughter) The loyal housekeeper who is a sound churchwoman and disapproves of the Swedenborgian sect. ### [Uncle Silas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-ii-uncle-silas) The housekeeper, who is reserved and avoids discussing Uncle Silas with Maud. ### [III: A New Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-iii-a-new-face) Housekeeper who disapproved of the Swedenborgian visionary and scolded Mary Quince for allowing the walk. ### [IV: Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-iv-madame-de-la-rougierre) Mrs. Rusk expresses strong dislike for Madame de la Rougierre, calling her unnatural and wolfish, and describes her appearance in bed as frightening. ### [Sights and Noises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-v-sights-and-noises) The housekeeper who hates Madame, accuses her of stealing wine and brandy, and refuses her requests for stimulants. ### [A Walk in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-vi-a-walk-in-the-wood) Mrs. Rusk catches Anne Wixted with brandy for Madame and confronts the Master, but is overruled. ### [Church Scarsdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-vii-church-scarsdale) Openly hostile to Madame, accuses her of stealing gin and conspiring with Anne Wixted, and tries to uncover her past through the pedlar. ### [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 the housekeeper who reports Madame's good appetite and warns Maud about stepmothers. ### [A Curious Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xii-a-curious-conversation) Mrs. Rusk is noted as one of the servants who likely knows more about Uncle Silas but refuses to tell Maud. ### [XV: A Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xv-a-warning) Informs Maud of Madame's lies about the Church Scarsdale excursion and expresses suspicion about Madame's motives. ### [XVI: Doctor Bryerly Looks In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xvi-doctor-bryerly-looks-in) Expresses disdain for Doctor Bryerly and the Swedenborgians, blaming them for Austin Ruthyn's declining health. ### [XVII: An Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xvii-an-adventure) Housekeeper who openly suspects Madame of knowing the ruffians. ### [XIX: Au Revoir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xix-au-revoir) Mrs. Rusk is mentioned as having warned Maud that Madame 'did not like a bone in my skin.' ### [Austin Ruthyn Sets Out on His Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xx-austin-ruthyn-sets-out-on-his-journey) Mrs. Rusk tries to shield Maud from the horror of her father's death. ### [Arrivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxi-arrivals) Describes the circumstances of Austin Ruthyn's death and assists with the immediate aftermath. ### [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) Nervous about going to the coffin room alone, she accompanies Maud and Lady Knollys when they attempt to view the body, but Maud ultimately draws back. ### [I Talk with Doctor Bryerly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-xxiii-i-talk-with-doctor-bryerly) Mrs. Rusk announces Doctor Bryerly's arrival to Maud and escorts her downstairs to meet him. ### [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) Mrs. Rusk writes letters to Maud about the dogs, ponies, and village gossip. ### [XV: Milly’s Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xv-milly-s-farewell) Mrs. Jolks accompanies Milly to London for her journey to France. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/mrs_rusk - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters