we can hardly send her packing back to –

Before I [Flavia] could overhear another word, the door to the kitchen opened, and the vicar came out into the hall with Mad Meg leaning on his arm, followed by Cynthia and two members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary.
“It’s out of the question,” Cynthia was saying, “quite out of the question. The place is simply reeking with paint fumes. Furthermore, we don’t have –“
“I’m afraid I must overrule you on this occasion, my dear. This poor woman needs somewhere to rest, and we can hardly send her packing back to –“
“A hovel in the woods?” Cynthia asked, a red flush rising in her cheeks.
“Flavia, dear girl,” the vicar said as he spotted me. “Would you mind running ahead to the vicarage? The door is open. If you’ll be kind enough to clear the books off the couch in my study . . . it doesn’t much matter where you put them. We shall be along directly.”
Nialla appeared suddenly from behind the curtains. “Just a moment, Vicar,” she said. “I’m coming with you.”
I could see that she was holding herself together, but only just.

***
What’s the meaning of the highlighted?