Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
Thegrasswasgrowingfast.ButSamhadmoreonhismindthangardening.Afterawhilehesighed,andgotupandwentout.
ItwasearlyAprilandtheskywasnowclearingafterheavyrain.Thesunwasdown,andacoolpaleeveningwasquietlyfadingintonight.HewalkedhomeundertheearlystarsthroughHobbitonanduptheHill,whistlingsoftlyandthoughtfully.
ItwasjustatthistimethatGandalfreappearedafterhislongabsence.ForthreeyearsafterthePartyhehadbeenaway.ThenhepaidFrodoabriefvisit,andaftertakingagoodlookathimhewentoffagain.Duringthenextyearortwohehadturnedupfairlyoften,comingunexpectedlyafterdusk,andgoingoffwithoutwarningbeforesunrise.Hewouldnotdiscusshisownbusinessandjourneys,andseemedchieflyinterestedinsmallnewsaboutFrodo’shealthanddoings.
Thensuddenlyhisvisitshadceased.ItwasovernineyearssinceFrodohadseenorheardofhim,andhehadbeguntothinkthatthewizardwouldneverreturnandhadgivenupallinterestinhobbits.Butthatevening,asSamwaswalkinghomeandtwilightwasfading,therecametheoncefamiliartaponthestudywindow.
Frodowelcomedhisoldfriendwithsurpriseandgreatdelight.Theylookedhardatoneanother.
’Ahwelleh?’saidGandalf.’Youlookthesameasever,Frodo!’
’Sodoyou,’Frodoreplied;butsecretlyhethoughtthatGandalflookedolderandmorecareworn.Hepressedhimfornewsofhimselfandofthewideworld,andsoontheyweredeepintalk,andtheystayedupfarintothenight.
