The appointment was for that very afternoon.
"I wouldn't have my brother or Martha know it for the world," murmured Rachel to herself, "nor that troublesome Jack.

Martha's got some blue ribbon, but I don't dare to ask her for it, for fear she'll suspect something.

No, I must go out and buy some." "I'm goin' to walk, Martha," she said, as she came downstairs.
"Going to walk in the forenoon! Isn't that something unusual ?" "I've got a little headache.

I guess it'll do me good," said Rachel.
"I hope it will," said her sister-in-law, sympathetically.
Rachel went to the nearest dry-goods store, and bought a yard of blue ribbon.
"Only a yard ?" inquired the clerk, in some surprise.
"That will do," said Rachel, nervously, coloring a little, as though the use which she designed for it might be suspected.
She paid for the ribbon, and presently returned.
"Does your head feel any better, Rachel ?" asked Mrs.Harding.
"A little," answered Rachel.
"You've been sewing too steady lately, perhaps ?" suggested Martha.
"Perhaps I have," assented Rachel.
"You ought to spare yourself.

You can't stand work as well as when you were younger," said Martha, innocently.
"A body'd think I was a hundred by the way you talk," said Rachel, sharply.
"I didn't mean to offend you, Rachel.