This is the point to note.

Her creed was a habit of the intellect; she held it as she did the knowledge of the motions of the earth.

She had never reflected upon it, for in everything she heard or read this intellectual basis was presupposed.

With doctrinal differences her reasoning faculty was familiar, and with her to think of religion was to think of the points at issue between one church and another--always, moreover, with pre-judgment in favour of her own.
But the external results of her liberty began to be of importance.

She came into frequent connection with her cousin Eleanor; she saw more than hitherto of the Bradshaws' family life; she had business transactions; she read newspapers; she progressed slowly towards some practical acquaintance with the world.
Miriam knew the very moment when the thought of making great sacrifices to build a new chapel for Bartles had first entered her mind.