Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
ItwasveryunlikeBilbotodoso,anyway;andIthoughtitratherodd.’
’SodidI.Butoddthingsmayhappentopeoplethathavesuchtreasures—iftheyusethem.Letitbeawarningtoyoutobeverycarefulwithit.Itmayhaveotherpowersthanjustmakingyouvanishwhenyouwishto.’
’Idon’tunderstand,’saidFrodo.
’NeitherdoI,’answeredthewizard.’Ihavemerelybeguntowonderaboutthering,especiallysincelastnight.Noneedtoworry.Butifyoutakemyadviceyouwilluseitveryseldom,ornotatall.AtleastIbegyounottouseitinanywaythatwillcausetalkorrousesuspicion.Isayagain:keepitsafe,andkeepitsecret!’
’Youareverymysterious!Whatareyouafraidof?’
’Iamnotcertain,soIwillsaynomore.ImaybeabletotellyousomethingwhenIcomeback.Iamgoingoffatonce:sothisisgood-byeforthepresent.’Hegotup.
’Atonce!’criedFrodo.’Why,Ithoughtyouwerestayingonforatleastaweek.Iwaslookingforwardtoyourhelp.’
’Ididmeanto—butIhavehadtochangemymind.Imaybeawayforagoodwhile;butI’llcomeandseeyouagain,assoonasIcan.Expectmewhenyouseeme!Ishallslipinquietly.Ishan’toftenbevisitingtheShireopenlyagain.IfindthatIhavebecomeratherunpopular.TheysayIamanuisanceandadisturberofthepeace.SomepeopleareactuallyaccusingmeofspiritingBilboaway,orworse.Ifyouwanttoknow,thereissupposedtobeaplotbetweenyouandmetogetholdofhiswealth.’
