* Desire and longing: The story opens with Mrs. Sommers feeling a deep desire for something beyond her everyday life. This is conveyed through her longing gaze at the silk stockings, and the way she succumbs to her impulse to buy them.
* Pleasure and indulgence: Mrs. Sommers experiences intense pleasure and a sense of freedom as she spends the money on herself and enjoys the afternoon. This is seen in the way she describes the feeling of the stockings on her legs and the joy she derives from the small luxuries she buys.
* Guilt and remorse: As the story progresses, a sense of guilt creeps in as Mrs. Sommers realizes she has spent all the money intended for her family. This is evident in her worries about how to explain her actions and her desire to hide the purchase from her husband.
* Realization and acceptance: By the end of the story, Mrs. Sommers seems to have come to terms with her choices, understanding that she needed this moment of escape and indulging in the feeling of being "alive." The tone becomes more reflective, as she acknowledges the bittersweet nature of her experience.
In summary, the tone of "A Pair of Silk Stockings" is a mixture of desire, indulgence, guilt, and ultimately, a bittersweet acceptance. It explores the complex emotions of a woman trapped in a mundane life who seeks moments of self-indulgence and fleeting freedom.