Details of a Nun

Details of a Nun
In Mary E. Wilkins Freeman's short story "A New England Nun", the main character Louisa Ellis lives in a spotless house secluded from her neighbors with only an old dog named Caesar and a canary as company.   Why are these small, seemingly unnecessary details important?   Does it truly matter how many aprons Louisa wears or whether or not her fiance Joe Dagget can replace books in a certain order or leave without a track of dust left behind?   Throughout the story, these small details both reveal character and anticipate plot.
Louisa's house may seem like just a backdrop to more important details, but is actually one of the most vital components used to accentuate Louisa as a character.   The narrator says that Louisa feels "throbs of genuine triumph" when she sees her orderly, clean house which lacks dust and dirt.   This serves to inform the reader of Louisa's need for order and cleanliness, which is one of the main reasons she feels ill at ease when contemplating her future with Joe Dagget.   Her fear of losing her life's organization is one deciding element in her plan to leave Joe.
Another window into Louisa's character comes in the form of three aprons which she wears at all times; one for gardening, one for sewing and other household tasks, and one for company.   Her constant coverage shows her need to hide any vulnerability and be prepared for whatever might come her way.   It also shows, yet again, her need for order.   She has three aprons, which limits her ability as well as her willingness to explore new activities other than the ones she takes part in every day without fail.   This is another element which Louisa would lose if she were to give away her freedom and marry Joe.
In Joe's first visit to Louisa's home, he distractedly fidgets with the two books Louisa has on her table before placing them in the opposite order they had been to begin with, which Louisa swiftly corrects.   This obsession on her part makes Joe feel even less...