Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
Butonethingdrivesoutanother,asyou’lladmit;andI’mabusyman.Butfirstonethingandthenanotherthisweekhavejoggedmymemory,asthesayinggoes;andnottoolateIhope.Yousee,IwasaskedtolookoutforhobbitsoftheShire,andforonebythenameofBagginsinparticular.’
‘Andwhathasthatgottodowithme?’askedFrodo.
‘Ah!youknowbest,’saidthelandlord,knowingly.‘Iwon’tgiveyouaway;butIwastoldthatthisBagginswouldbegoingbythenameofUnderhill,andIwasgivenadescriptionthatfitsyouwellenough,ifImaysayso.’
‘Indeed!Let’shaveitthen!’saidFrodo,unwiselyinterrupting.
‘Astoutlittlefellowwithredcheeks,’saidMr.Butterbursolemnly.Pippinchuckled,butSamlookedindignant.‘Thatwon’thelpyoumuch;itgoesformosthobbits,Barley,hesaystome,’continuedMr.ButterburwithaglanceatPippin.‘Butthisoneistallerthansomeandfairerthanmost,andhehasacleftinhischin:perkychapwithabrighteye.Beggingyourpardon,buthesaidit,notme.’
‘Hesaidit?Andwhowashe?’askedFrodoeagerly.
‘Ah!ThatwasGandalf,ifyouknowwhoImean.Awizardtheysayheis,buthe’sagoodfriendofmine,whetherorno.ButnowIdon’tknowwhathe’llhavetosaytome,ifIseehimagain:turnallmyalesourormeintoablockofwood,Ishouldn’twonder.He’sabithasty.Stillwhat’sdonecan’tbeundone.’
‘Well,whathaveyoudone?’saidFrodo,gettingimpatientwiththeslowunravellingofButterbur’sthoughts.
