How does Gissing'S decription of Rhoda involve gender ambiguity?

I see no reference to Rhoda in Chapter 3.  However, she is first introduced in Chapter 1 as a guest at the table of the sisters.  In this novel, gender ambiguity ultimately would be centered more on the fact that she does not fall into the typical role of a poor Victorian spinster which would make her break the mold that the Victorians expected of their woman.  Because this novel echoes early feminist ideals, it seems reasonable to assume that she "looks like a woman" but perhaps expects to be more independent and thinking like a man.