What did most women seeking the Witch's service do when they visited her and why is this significant?

The narrator reveals that the majority of the Witch's clientele covered their faces with their shawls as they approached the Witch's home to seek out her mystical services. The reader is meant to infer here that the women do not want to be seen visiting the Witch and that they fear being the target of gossip if they are seen to be affiliated with her in any way.