Mary Jane

Fictional character.

In Conan Doyle stories

[SH] A Scandal in Bohemia (1891)

• Former maid of the Watsons. Mrs. Watson has given her notice as the maid was incorrigible (SCAN 43).

The Man with the Watches (1898)

• "Mary Jane" is Victorian shorthand for a maid-of-all-work / housemaid — a generic servant name.

« Now you'll never make a Mary Jane of yourself while I can help it. » (WATC 246).

• So the line means: "You're not going to turn yourself (i.e., disguise yourself as) into a servant while I can stop it."

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