Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
’Inanenvelope,ifyoumustknow,’saidBilboimpatiently.’Thereonthemantelpiece.Well,no!Hereitisinmypocket!’Hehesitated.’Isn’tthatoddnow?’hesaidsoftlytohimself.’Yetafterall,whynot?Whyshouldn’titstaythere?’
GandalflookedagainveryhardatBilbo,andtherewasagleaminhiseyes.’Ithink,Bilbo,’hesaidquietly,’Ishouldleaveitbehind.Don’tyouwantto?’
’Wellyes—andno.Nowitcomestoit,Idon’tlikepartingwithitatall,Imaysay.AndIdon’treallyseewhyIshould.Whydoyouwantmeto?’heasked,andacuriouschangecameoverhisvoice.Itwassharpwithsuspicionandannoyance.’Youarealwaysbadgeringmeaboutmyring;butyouhaveneverbotheredmeabouttheotherthingsthatIgotonmyjourney.’
’No,butIhadtobadgeryou,’saidGandalf.’Iwantedthetruth.Itwasimportant.Magicringsare—well,magical;andtheyarerareandcurious.Iwasprofessionallyinterestedinyourring,youmaysay;andIstillam.Ishouldliketoknowwhereitis,ifyougowanderingagain.AlsoIthinkyouhavehaditquitelongenough.Youwon’tneeditanymore.Bilbo,unlessIamquitemistaken.’
Bilboflushed,andtherewasanangrylightinhiseyes.Hiskindlyfacegrewhard.’Whynot?’hecried.’Andwhatbusinessisitofyours,anyway,toknowwhatIdowithmyownthings?Itismyown.Ifoundit.Itcametome.’
’Yes,yes,’saidGandalf.’Butthereisnoneedtogetangry.’
’IfIamitisyourfault,’saidBilbo.’Itismine,Itellyou.Myown.Myprecious.Yes,myprecious.’
