Why do Kitty's initial feelings change towards the young orphan children change over time? Who or what help her to reconsider her feelings?

Whatever change Kitty feels comes about as she journeys toward finding the better self that she is inside. As she observes her husband who willingly risks his life to help the orphans and the Mother Superior who is caring and humble, Kitty begins to see how good people can be. She begins to care more for those around her and sees some of the shallowness that has characterized most of her life up until this point in the story.