He marked as he could, by this concession, that if he had finally met her first proposal for what would be "amusing" in it, so any idea she might have would contribute to that effect.

He had consequently--in all consistency--to treat it as amusing that she reaffirmed, and reaffirmed again, the truth that was HER truth.
"I don't care what you make of it, and I don't ask anything whatever of you--anything but this.

I want to have said it--that's all; I want not to have failed to say it.

To see you once and be with you, to be as we are now and as we used to be, for one small hour--or say for two--that's what I have had for weeks in my head.

I mean, of course, to get it BEFORE--before what you're going to do.