Wait, what? That gets Strange's interest and any protests of well actually, he's going to pester her about a set-up to help keep himself from dying fall dead in his throat. This is much more interesting and worrying than any knowledge of how Childermass broke away from Norrell or any doubts that they'll ever meet again.

"What do you mean 'a complete waste of my time?'" he asks, trying to keep his tone as light as he can, not wanting to give away just how confused he is by Childermass's statement. "I want to bring back my wife, I hardly think that's a waste of my time in the first place."