said. "It's the second this
week, and they think over to the store that that Berwick widower must be
settin' up and takin' notice!"

She had indeed received a letter the day before, an unsigned
communication, consisting only of the words,--

Second Epistle of John. Verse x2.

She had taken her Bible to look out the reference and found it to be:--

Having many tilings to write unto you, I would not write
with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak
face to face, that our joy may be full.

The envelope was postmarked New York, and she smiled, thinking that Mrs.
Emerson, a charming lady who had spent the summer in Edgewood, and
had sung with her in the village choir, was coming back, as she had
promised, to have a sleigh ride and see Edgewood in its winter dress.
Nancy had almost forgotten the first letter in the excitements of her
busy day, and now here was another, from Boston this time. She opened
the envelope and found again only a simple sentence, printed, not
written. (Lest she should guess the hand, she wondered?)

Second Epistle of John. Verse 5.--
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment
unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one
another.

Was it Mrs. Emerson? Could it be--any one else? Was it? No, it might
have been, years ago; but not now; not now!--And yet; he was always so
different from other people; and once, in church, he had handed her the
hymn-book with his finger pointing to a certain verse.

She always fancied that her secret fidelity of heart rose from the
fact that Justin Peabody was "different." From the hour of their first
acquaintance, she was ever comparing him with his companions, and always
to his advantage. So long as a woman finds all men very much alike (as
Lobelia Brewster did, save that she allowed some to be worse!), she is
in no danger. But the moment in which she perceives and discriminates
subtle differences, marveling that there can be two opinions about a
man's superiority, that moment the miracle has happened.

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment
unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one
another.

No, it could not be from Justin. She drank her tea, played with her
beans abstractedly, and nibbled her slice of steaming brown bread.

Not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee.

No, not a new one