How does religion set Lucy apart from her peers in the novel, Villette?

The differences between Protestantism and Catholicism and the noble class and the bourgeoisie mark an important difference between Lucy and her peers. Lucy stands out because of her independent English attitude and religion. The emphasis on supervision and somewhat lax approach to education are both grating to Lucy, who values her freedom and puts most of her efforts into her education. Lucy stands out among the French girls at the school as an alien creature, almost a puritan in comparison to her companions. Her entire personality, her opinions, her self-reliance and her clothing mark her as an English woman.