He was talking again very fast, but incoherently.

Hampden, Pym, Fairfax, Falkland--the great names clattered past every now and then, like horsemen, through a maze of words, but with no perceptible order or purpose.

The phrases concerning them came to nothing; and though there were apparently many voices speaking, nothing intelligible could be made out.
When next the mists cleared a little from the old visionary's brain, David gathered that Cromwell was close by, defending himself with difficulty, apparently, like Charles, against 'Lias's assaults.

In his youth and middle age--until, in fact, an event of some pathos and mystery had broken his life across, and cut him off from his profession--'Lias had been a zealous teacher and a voracious reader; and through the dreams of fifteen years the didactic faculty had persisted and grown amazingly.

He played schoolmaster now to all the heroes of history.