Once when he had been telling a long story about one of his companions and finally concluded, as there was a little pause, the father said,-- "I scarcely understand a word that you say, boy; you talk so very fast." They all laughed heartily, and Oyvind not the least.

He knew very well this was true, but it was not possible for him to speak more slowly.
Everything new he had seen and learned, during his long absence from home, had so affected his imagination and understanding, and had so driven him out of his accustomed demeanor, that faculties which long had lain dormant were roused up, as it were, and his brain was in a state of constant activity.

Moreover, they observed that he had a habit of arbitrarily taking up two or three words here and there, and repeating them again and again from sheer haste.

He seemed to be stumbling over himself.

Sometimes this appeared absurd, but then he laughed and it was forgotten.