She had disapproved, audibly, repeatedly, and eventually to my face, of my habit of going about with my head uncovered, it being her opinion that it was unseemly for a woman of my age not to wear either cap or kerch, reprehensible for the wife of a man of my husband's position-and furthermore, that only "backcountry sluts and women of low character" wore their hair loose upon their shoulders. I had laughed, ignored her, and given her a bottle of Jamie's second-best whisky, with instructions to have a wee nip with her breakfast and another after supper. A
The narrator recounts a series of criticisms from a woman about her choice to go without a head covering. This woman believes it is inappropriate for someone of the narrator's stature, particularly as the wife of a man in a prominent position, to not follow conventional standards of attire. She expresses strong views, associating the narrator's style with lower social status and moral decay, indicating that only women of questionable character would wear their hair down.
In response to these disapproving remarks, the narrator chooses to dismiss the criticism with laughter and a gesture of kindness by offering the woman a bottle of whisky. This act serves as a form of rebellion against societal expectations. It highlights the narrator's independent spirit, as she prioritizes her own choices over outdated conventions while also attempting to foster camaraderie despite the woman's judgmental stance.
