The Shadow of the Past

           Thetalkdidnotdiedowninnineorevenninety-ninedays.TheseconddisappearanceofMr.BilboBagginswasdiscussedinHobbiton,andindeedallovertheShire,forayearandaday,andwasrememberedmuchlongerthanthat.Itbecameafireside-storyforyounghobbits;andeventuallyMadBaggins,whousedtovanishwithabangandaflashandreappearwithbagsofjewelsandgold,becameafavouritecharacteroflegendandlivedonlongafterallthetrueeventswereforgotten.

           Butinthemeantime,thegeneralopinionintheneighbourhoodwasthatBilbo,whohadalwaysbeenrathercracked,hadatlastgonequitemad,andhadrunoffintotheBlue.Therehehadundoubtedlyfallenintoapoolorariverandcometoatragic,buthardlyanuntimely,end.TheblamewasmostlylaidonGandalf.

           ’IfonlythatdrattedwizardwillleaveyoungFrodoalone,perhapshe’llsettledownandgrowsomehobbit-sense,’theysaid.AndtoallappearancethewizarddidleaveFrodoalone,andhedidsettledown,butthegrowthofhobbit-sensewasnotverynoticeable.Indeed,heatoncebegantocarryonBilbo’sreputationforoddity.Herefusedtogointomourning;andthenextyearhegaveapartyinhonourofBilbo’shundred-and-twelfthbirthday,whichhecalledHundred-weightFeast.Butthatwasshortofthemark,fortwentyguestswereinvitedandtherewereseveralmealsatwhichitsnowedfoodandraineddrink,ashobbitssay.

           Somepeoplewererathershocked;butFrodokeptupthecustomofgivingBilbo’sBirthdayPartyyearafteryearuntiltheygotusedtoit.HesaidthathedidnotthinkBilbowasdead.Whentheyasked:’Whereishethen?’heshruggedhisshoulders.