amusement and consternation.

"Only think how Mrs. Sim White would look," Louisa said after Mrs.
Jameson had gone, and we both saw Mrs. White going down the street in
that costume indicative of youthful tramps over long stretches of
road, and mad spins on wheels, instead of her nice, softly falling
black cashmere skirts covering decently her snowy stockings and her
cloth congress boots; and we shuddered.

"Of course, she would have to wear gaiters like Mrs. Jameson," said
Louisa, "but it would be dreadful."

"Well, there's one comfort," said I; "Mrs. White will never wear it."

"Nor anybody else," said Louisa.

Still we did feel a little nervous about it; there is never any
estimating the influence of a reformer. However, we were sure of
ourselves. Louisa and I agreed that we never would be seen out in any
such costume. Not very many in the village were. There were a few
women, who were under the influence of Mrs. Jameson, who did cut off
some of their old dresses and make themselves some leggings with hers
for a pattern. After their housework was done they started off for
long tramps with strides of independence and defiance, but they did
not keep it up very long; none of them after Mrs. Jameson went away.
To tell the truth, most of the women in our village had so much work
to do, since they kept no servants, that they could not take many
ten-mile walks, no matter what length skirts they wore. However, many
wore the short ones while doing housework, which was very sensible.