You do n't care , of course . Oh , no ! Harriet Warren is all you care about . Well , I wish you joy of her . '' Jerome looked puzzled , or pretended to . In reality he was hugging himself with delight . `` I do n't just understand you , Anne , '' he said hesitatingly `` You appear to be vexed about something . '' `` I ? Oh , no , I 'm not , Mr. Irving . Of course old friends do n't count now . Well , I 've no doubt new ones will wear just as well . '' `` If it 's about my going to see Harriet , '' said Jerome easily `` I do n't see as how it can matter much to you . Goodness knows , you took enough pains to show me you did n't want me . I do n't blame you . A woman has a right to please herself , and a man ought to have sense to take his answer and go . I had n't , and that 's where I made my mistake . I do n't mean to pester you any more , but we can be real good friends , ca n't we ? I 'm sure I 'm as much your friend as ever I was . '' Now , I hold that this speech of Jerome 's , delivered in a cool , matter-of-fact tone , as of a man stating a case with dispassionate fairness , was a masterpiece . It was the last cleverly executed movement of the campaign .
If it failed XXXXX effect a capitulation , he was a defeated man .
Anne If Of about as in right that to with