Final answer:
The people in town likely see Miss Strangeworth as a colorless, thin presence, possibly wearing a mask of reticence; her true nature is a mystery, remembered only by one striking incident.
Step-by-step explanation:
The townspeople's reaction to Miss Strangeworth suggests they view her with a mix of respect and distance, reflecting an impression of her as somewhat insubstantial, yet potentially hiding more beneath the surface. Given her lack of remarkable traits, except for "the one terrible thing," she's seen as a shadow, with her true nature being hard to discern. The complex curiosity she provokes is further intensified by the surprising revelation of her actions, leaving her character an enigma to those around her. The residents of the village have various responses to the characters in the provided texts, often shaped by the societal norms and individual circumstances that define their interactions.