Come along--sharp--coast's clear!" Then he began to conjugate a Greek verb, sometimes shouting the words and sitting up in bed, and sometimes half whimpering them as Railsford gently laid him back on the pillow.

There was not much fear of Railsford dropping asleep again after this.

The sick lad scarcely ceased his wild talk all the night through.

Now he was going over again in detail that dark night's work in the boot-box; now he was construing Homer to the doctor; now he was being run down in the mile race; now he was singing one of his old child's hymns; now he was laughing over the downfall of Mr Bickers; now he was making a speech at the debating society.

It was impossible for the listener to follow all his wild incoherent talk, it was all so mixed up and jumbled.