Хоббит
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FiliandKililookeduncomfortableandstoodonOneleg,buttheothersmadenopretenceofoffering-exceptoldBalin.thelook-outman,whowasratherfondthehobbit.Hesaidhewouldcomeinsideatleastandperhapsabitofthewaytoo,reallytocallforhelpifnecessary.
Themostthatcanbesaidforthedwarvesisthis:theyintendedtopayBilboreallyhandsomelyforhisservices;theyhadbroughthimtodoanastyjobforthem,andtheydidnotmindthepoorlittlefellowdoingitifhewould;buttheywouldallhavedonetheirbesttogethimoutoftrouble,ifhegotintoit,astheydidinthecaseofthetrollsatthebeginningoftheiradventuresbeforetheyhadanyparticularreasonsforbeinggratefultohim.Thereitis:dwarvesarenotheroes,butcalculatingfolkwithagreatideaofthevalueofmoney;somearetrickyandtreacherousandprettybadlots;somearenot,butaredecentenoughpeoplelikeThorinandCompany,ifyoudon’texpecttoomuch.
ThestarswerecomingoutbehindhiminapaleskybarredwithblackwhenthehobbitcreptthroughtheenchanteddoorandstoleintotheMountain.Itwasfareasiergoingthanheexpected.Thiswasnogoblinentrance,orroughwood-elves’cave.Itwasapassagemadebydwarves,attheheightoftheirwealthandskill:straightasaruler,smooth-flooredandsmooth-sided,goingwithagentlenever-varyingslopedirect-tosomedistantendintheblacknessbelow.
