[Exim] slow response from exim

hi!

just got smtp auth working, but realized another problem. The time
elapsed form I press "send" to the password question comes is very long.
When I try to telnet to port 25 on my server, the time from the telnet
window is opened to exim replies is very long.

is this due to my internet connection or due to some exim config or
perhaps my hardware?

any ideas?

regards
Asbjørn