Then she went on.

It was best, on the whole, to call her husband, she thought, though her reasoning was confused and uncertain.
In her view of matters, the burden of the crime she had tried to commit all fell upon him, and she was willing that he should face Veronica, and realize what he had done.

At the same time she believed herself so safe as still to be able to throw the suspicion entirely upon Elettra, though Veronica would protect her.

Moreover, though she would not have admitted the fact, her strength was momentarily so broken that she felt it easier to obey the young girl than to visit her and fight out the interview alone.
Veronica did not move while she was gone, but stood quite still, watching the door.

She was very pale, with illness and rising anger, but she was not weak, as Matilde was.