Dear, for
interrupting you; but it is to assure you, that I am so well convinc'd of your
affectionate Regards for me, that I know I might have spared the greatest Part
of what I have said: And indeed, it must be very bad for both of us, if I should
have Reason to think it necessary to say so much. But one thing has brought on
another; and I have rather spoken what my Niceness has made me observe in other
Families, than what I fear in my own. And therefore, let me assure you, I am
thoroughly satisfy'd with your Conduct hitherto. You shall have no Occasion to
repent it. And you shall find, tho' greatly imperfect, and passionate, on
particular Provocations, (which yet I will try to overcome) that you have not a
brutal or ungenerous Husband, who is capable of offering Insult for
Condescension, or returning Evil for Good.
    I thank'd him for these kind Rules, and generous Assurances; and assured
him, that they had made so much Impression on my Mind, that these, and his most
agreeable Injunctions before given me, and such as he should hereafter be
pleased to give me, should be so many Rules for my future Conduct.
    And I am glad of the Method I have taken of making a Journal of all that
passes in these first Stages of my Happiness, because it will sink the
Impression still deeper; and I shall have recourse to them for my better
Regulation, as often as I shall mistrust my Memory.
    Let me see: What are the Rules I am to observe from this awful Lecture? Why,
these:
 
1. That I must not, when he is in great Wrath with any body, break in upon him,
without his Leave. -- Well, I'll remember it, I warrant. But yet I fansy this
Rule is almost peculiar to himself.
    2. That I must think his Displeasure the heaviest thing that can befal me.
To be sure I shall.
    3. And so that I must not wish to incur it, to save any body else. I'll be
further if I do.
    4. That I must never make a Compliment to any body at his Expence.
    5. That I must not be guilty of any Acts of wilful Meanness! There is a
great deal meant in this; and I'll endeavour to observe it all. To be sure, the
Occasion on which he mentions this, explains it; that I must say nothing, tho'
in Anger, that