Complex sentence: During the time of her novitiate she lived with "the Grand Mistress" of her cloister, but afterward she had her own dwelling, and, if she could afford it, was attended by her own servants.
Split into simpler sentences: During the time of her novitiate, she lived with "the Grand Mistress" of her cloister, but afterward she had her own dwelling. If she could afford it, she was attended by her own servants.