Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
Hehadalongwhitebeardandbushyeyebrowsthatstuckoutbeyondthebrimofhishat.Smallhobbit-childrenranafterthecartallthroughHobbitonandrightupthehill.Ithadacargooffireworks,astheyrightlyguessed.AtBilbo’sfrontdoortheoldmanbegantounload:thereweregreatbundlesoffireworksofallsortsandshapes,eachlabelledwithalargeredGandtheelf-rune,ThatwasGandalf’smark,ofcourse,andtheoldmanwasGandalftheWizard,whosefameintheShirewasduemainlytohisskillwithfires,smokes,andlights.Hisrealbusinesswasfarmoredifficultanddangerous,buttheShire-folkknewnothingaboutit.Tothemhewasjustoneofthe’attractions’attheParty.Hencetheexcitementofthehobbit-children.’GforGrand!’theyshouted,andtheoldmansmiled.Theyknewhimbysight,thoughheonlyappearedinHobbitonoccasionallyandneverstoppedlong;butneithertheynoranybuttheoldestoftheireldershadseenoneofhisfireworkdisplays—theynowbelongedtothelegendarypast.
Whentheoldman,helpedbyBilboandsomedwarves,hadfinishedunloading.Bilbogaveafewpenniesaway;butnotasinglesquiborcrackerwasforthcoming,tothedisappointmentoftheonlookers.
’Runawaynow!’saidGandalf.’Youwillgetplentywhenthetimecomes.’ThenhedisappearedinsidewithBilbo,andthedoorwasshut.Theyounghobbitsstaredatthedoorinvainforawhile,andthenmadeoff,feelingthatthedayofthepartywouldnevercome.
InsideBagEnd,BilboandGandalfweresittingattheopenwindowofasmallroomlookingoutwestontothegarden.Thelateafternoonwasbrightandpeaceful.Theflowersglowedredandgolden:snap-dragonsandsun-flowers,andnasturtiumstrailingallovertheturfwallsandpeepinginattheroundwindows.
