Molly Maguire comes across as a very proud, stubborn woman. She doesn't really need a fur coat, but she's determined to have one anyway, as it will be the ultimate status symbol—a very visible sign of how far up in the world she's risen. This doesn't necessarily mean that she's vain or materialistic; it's simply that she sees such an expensive gift as a reward for years of hard sacrifice and going without life's little luxuries.
Unfortunately for her, Paddy doesn't quite understand her motivations in this regard. Though enthusiastic about buying Molly a fur coat, he sees it as a purely practical item, something that will keep her warm. The idea that it's a symbol of Molly's dignity as a woman, and a symbol that Molly deserves at that, simply doesn't cross his mind. For Molly, a fur coat would be a validation of herself as a human being. That's why she gets so upset when Paddy indicates that he's prepared to buy the coat but for the wrong reasons. Paddy isn't taking into account just what it means to her and why it's so important for her sense of pride and self-worth to have it.
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