She was the only person born in the cloister who seemed to have freed herself from the soporific influence of the church.

She loved the Cathedral, as being her ancient roof-tree, but she did not retain much respect for the saints in the chapels, nor for the human dignitaries who sat in the choir.

She laughed with the happiness of a healthy and placid old woman, her seventy years being, as she said, quite free from any evil done to her neighbour.

Her language was free and easy, like that of a woman who has seen much, and does not believe in human majesty or irreproachable virtues; but the bed-rock of her character was its tolerance, her compassion for all faults, but she Was indignant with those who attempted to hide them.
"They are all men, Gabriel," she would say to her nephew, speaking of the clergy of the Cathedral.

"Don Sebastian is only a man; all sinners who have much to answer for before God.