"How canst thou say that, O monk?" said the woman.  "Was the Lord Christ any worse than thou?  Christ came to redeem woman no less than to redeem man.  Not less did He suffer for the sake of woman than for the sake of man.  Women gave service and tendance to Him and His Apostles.  A woman it was who bore Him, else had men been left forlorn. It was a man who betrayed Him with a kiss; a woman it was who washed His feet with tears.  It was a man who smote Him with a reed, but a woman who broke the alabaster box of precious ointment.  It was a man who thrice denied Him; a woman stood by His cross.  It was a woman to whom He first spoke on Easter morn, but a man thrust his hand into His side and put his finger in the prints of the nails before he would believe.  And not less than men do women enter the heavenly kingdom. Why then shouldst thou drive my little child and me from thy hermitage?"