She had no liberty of action or freedom of will; God alone could secure her salvation by giving her the gift of His grace.

That grace had been already manifested by bringing her to the hospitable roof of the Huberts, where, under the shadow of the Cathedral, she could lead a life of submission, of purity, and of faith.

She often heard within her soul the grumblings of heredity tendency to evil, and asked herself what would have become of her had she been left on her native soil.

Without doubt she would have been bad; while here, in this blessed corner of the earth, she had grown up free from temptation, strong and healthy.

Was it not grace that had given her this home, where she was surrounded by such charming histories she had so easily committed to memory, where she had learned such perfect faith in the present and hope in the future, and where the invisible and unknown, or the miracles of ages, seemed natural to her, and quite on a level with her daily life?
It had armed her for all combats, as heretofore it had armed the martyrs.