The discovery that Max was human had somehow altered everything, and made her own conduct appear dastardly.

She had acted maliciously albeit, in self-defence; but now that it seemed that her point might pierce his armour, she wanted to withdraw it.

She shrank unspeakably from seeing him vanquished.

It would have hurt her to find him at her own feet, but the bare thought of him at Violet's--Violet who had no mercy upon old or young, who would trample him underfoot without a pang and pass gaily on--that thought was unbearable.
Of course she might be wrong.

It was still possible that her original conception of him might be the correct one.