Brianna, your point about the change in the protagonist’s focus is interesting; I like that you recognized a clear moment Mrs. Ames shifts her focus from catering to her husband, to instead working with the plumber instead (as she ignored the professor calling out, and instead descended the stairs with the unnamed worker). I completely agree that we even see a physical change in her as she begins the story with little thought to her appearance, and then vanity begins to reawaken as she takes note of the state of her hair, as you mentioned. I believe this tell-tale sign of flirtation may have been in response to the plumber repeatedly holding eye contact with the astronomer’s wife (another flirtatious gesture, whether unconscious or an affectation).