Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
’Verywell,’saidBilbo,’itgoestoFrodowithalltherest.’Hedrewadeepbreath.’AndnowIreallymustbestarting,orsomebodyelsewillcatchme.Ihavesaidgood-bye,andIcouldn’tbeartodoitalloveragain.’Hepickeduphisbagandmovedtothedoor.
’Youhavestillgottheringinyourpocket,’saidthewizard.’Well,soIhave!’criedBilbo.’Andmywillandalltheotherdocumentstoo.Youhadbettertakeitanddeliveritforme.Thatwillbesafest.’
’No,don’tgivetheringtome,’saidGandalf.’Putitonthemantelpiece.Itwillbesafeenoughthere,tillFrodocomes.Ishallwaitforhim.’
Bilbotookouttheenvelope,butjustashewasabouttosetitbytheclock,hishandjerkedback,andthepacketfellonthefloor.Beforehecouldpickitup,thewizardstoopedandseizeditandsetitinitsplace.Aspasmofangerpassedswiftlyoverthehobbit’sfaceagain.Suddenlyitgavewaytoalookofreliefandalaugh.’Well,that’sthat,’hesaid.’NowI’moff!’
Theywentoutintothehall.Bilbochosehisfavouritestickfromthestand;thenhewhistled.Threedwarvescameoutofdifferentroomswheretheyhadbeenbusy.
’Iseverythingready?’askedBilbo.’Everythingpackedandlabelled?’
’Everything,’theyanswered.
’Well,let’sstartthen!’Hesteppedoutofthefront-door.
Itwasafinenight,andtheblackskywasdottedwithstars.Helookedup,sniffingtheair.’Whatfun!Whatfuntobeoffagain,offontheRoadwithdwarves!ThisiswhatIhavereallybeenlongingfor,foryears!Good-bye!’hesaid,lookingathisoldhomeandbowingtothedoor.’Good-bye,Gandalf!’
