She was on her guard; she never spoke of their affairs till she was asked, even pressed--as when her opinion was wanted; she had a dread of seeming to meddle.

Madame Merle was as candid as we know, and one day she candidly expressed this dread to Isabel.
"I MUST be on my guard," she said; "I might so easily, without suspecting it, offend you.

You would be right to be offended, even if my intention should have been of the purest.

I must not forget that I knew your husband long before you did; I must not let that betray me.

If you were a silly woman you might be jealous.