Now I seemed landed in a safe harbour, after the stormy voyage of life past was at an end, and I began to be thankful for my deliverance. I sat many an hour by myself, and wept over the remembrance of past follies, and the dreadful extravagances of a wicked life, and sometimes I flattered myself that I had sincerely repented. But there are temptations which it is not in the power of human nature to resist, and few know what would be their case if driven to the same exigencies. As covetousness is the root of all evil, so poverty is, I believe, the worst of all snares. But I waive that discourse till I come to an experiment. I lived with this husband with the utmost tranquillity; he was a quiet, sensible, sober man; virtuous, modest, sincere, and in his business diligent and just. His business was in a narrow compass, and his income sufficient to a plentiful way of living in the ordinary way. I do not say to keep an equipage, and make a figure, as the world calls it, nor did I expect it, or desire it; for as I abhorred the levity and extravagance of my former life, so I chose now to live retired, frugal, and within ourselves. I kept no company, made no visits; minded my family, and obliged my husband; and this kind of life became a pleasure to me.
J'ai vécu avec ce mari dans la plus parfaite tranquillité; c'était un homme calme, sobre et de bon sens, vertueux, modeste, sincère, et en ses affaires diligent et juste; ses affaires n'embrassaient pas un grand cercle et ses revenus suffisaient pleinement à vivre sur un pied ordinaire; je ne dis pas à tenir équipage ou à faire figure, ainsi que dit le monde, et je ne m'y étais point attendue ni ne le désirais; car ainsi que j'avais horreur de la légèreté et de l'extravagance de ma vie d'auparavant, ainsi avais-je maintenant choisi de vivre retirée, de façon frugale, et entre nous; je ne recevais point de société, ne faisais point de visites; je prenais soin de ma famille et j'obligeais mon mari; et ce genre de vie me devenait un plaisir.