Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
’Iamgladtofindyouvisible,’repliedthewizard,sittingdowninachair,’Iwantedtocatchyouandhaveafewfinalwords.Isupposeyoufeelthateverythinghasgoneoffsplendidlyandaccordingtoplan?’
’Yes,Ido,’saidBilbo.’Thoughthatflashwassurprising:itquitestartledme,letalonetheothers.Alittleadditionofyourown,Isuppose?’
’Itwas.Youhavewiselykeptthatringsecretalltheseyears,anditseemedtomenecessarytogiveyourguestssomethingelsethatwouldseemtoexplainyoursuddenvanishment.’
’Andwouldspoilmyjoke.Youareaninterferingoldbusybody,’laughedBilbo,’butIexpectyouknowbest,asusual.’
’Ido—whenIknowanything.ButIdon’tfeeltoosureaboutthiswholeaffair.Ithasnowcometothefinalpoint.Youhavehadyourjoke,andalarmedoroffendedmostofyourrelations,andgiventhewholeShiresomethingtotalkaboutforninedays,orninety-ninemorelikely.Areyougoinganyfurther?’
’Yes,Iam.IfeelIneedaholiday,averylongholiday,asIhavetoldyoubefore.Probablyapermanentholiday:Idon’texpectIshallreturn.Infact,Idon’tmeanto,andIhavemadeallarrangements.
’Iamold,Gandalf.Idon’tlookit,butIambeginningtofeelitinmyheartofhearts.Well-preservedindeed!’hesnorted.’Why,Ifeelallthin,sortofstretched,ifyouknowwhatImean:likebutterthathasbeenscrapedovertoomuchbread.Thatcan’tberight.Ineedachange,orsomething.’
Gandalflookedcuriouslyandcloselyathim.
