Roast Mutton

           UpjumpedBilbo,andputtingonhisdressing-gownwentintothedining-room.Therehesawnobody,butallthesignsofalargeandhurriedbreakfast.Therewasafearfulmessintheroom,andpilesofunwashedcrocksinthekitchen.Nearlyeverypotandpanhepossessedseemedtohavebeenused.Thewashing-upwassodismallyrealthatBilbowasforcedtobelievethepartyofthenightbeforehadnotbeenpartofhisbaddreams,ashehadratherhoped.Indeedhewasreallyrelievedafteralltothinkthattheyhadallgonewithouthim,andwithoutbotheringtowakehimup("butwithneverathank-you"hethought);andyetinawayhecouldnothelpfeelingjustatrifledisappointed.Thefeelingsurprisedhim.

           "Don’tbeafool,BilboBaggins!"hesaidtohimself,"thinkingofdragonsandallthatoutlandishnonsenseatyourage!"Sobeputonanapron,litfires,boiledwater,andwashedup.Thenhehadanicelittlebreakfastinthekitchenbeforeturningoutthedining-room.Bythattimethesunwasshining;andthefrontdoorwasopen,lettinginawarmspringbreeze.Bilbobegantowhistleloudlyandtoforgetaboutthenightbefore.Infacthewasjustsittingdowntoanicelittlesecondbreakfastinthedining-roombytheopenwindow,wheninwalkedGandalf."Mydearfellow,"saidhe,"wheneverareyougoingtocome?Whataboutanearlystart?-andhereyouarehavingbreakfast,orwhateveryoucallit,athalfpastten!Theyleftyouthemessage,becausetheycouldnotwait."

           "Whatmessage?"saidpoorMr.Bagginsallinafluster."GreatElephants!"saidGandalf,"youarenotatallyourselfthismorning-youhaveneverdustedthemantel-piece!"

           "What’sthatgottodowithit?Ihavehadenoughtodowithwashingupforfourteen!"