This is not a specific response to your question, but I do have a previous answer to What opinions did Victorians hold on Islamic veiling? that explains the position of veiling in the nineteenth century.

One thing I want to point out (covered in that answer, and the earlier one it links to) is that veiling was seen as a way to make women mobile; it was a way of keeping themselves concealed when outside of the women's quarters of the home. When actually at home, it was not always needed.