Ever since I was a girl, my own mother vowed (发誓). 

I must find the way to power through a noble brow(眉毛，此处无意，noble brow指贵族).

I married once for love then my senses came(醒悟). 

I must marry for the stature(声望) of my husband's name.

Onto marriage number two, I knew what I had to do, 

and my poor husband fell ill in a year or two. 

Solved (解决了) problem number one, now to problem number two. 

His doe-eyed (眼睛圆圆的) little girl with gentle point of view (善良的心地）.

Would I ship her off to school(打发她去学校)? 

No, I told her if she stayed that she'd have to earn her keep（伙食住宿费）and so she became the maid (女仆).