ten minutes to six
She hurried toward the nearest dry goods store , so intent upon reaching there that she paid little or no attention to the people she passed in the street . Shopping at this late hour proved a comparatively easy matter . Here and there a belated customer might be seen wandering from counter to counter , but the day 's business was practically finished and the saleswomen were busily counting their sales or conversing with their nearest neighbors in low tones . It was ten minutes to six when Grace , inwardly congratulating herself on having been able to do so much shopping in so short a space of time , hurried to the ribbon counter . Blue velvet ribbon was the last item on her list . Then she could go home feeling that her hour had been well spent . `` We 're out of that shade of blue velvet ribbon , '' said the saleswoman , glancing at the sample Grace held out to her .