Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
’Howbrightyourgardenlooks!’saidGandalf.
’Yes,’saidBilbo.Iamveryfondindeedofit,andofallthedearoldShire;butIthinkIneedaholiday.’
’Youmeantogoonwithyourplanthen?’
’Ido.Imadeupmymindmonthsago,andIhaven’tchangedit.’
’Verywell.Itisnogoodsayinganymore.Sticktoyourplan—yourwholeplan,mind—andIhopeitwillturnoutforthebest,foryou,andforallofus.’
’Ihopeso.AnywayImeantoenjoymyselfonThursday,andhavemylittlejoke.’
’Whowilllaugh,Iwonder?’saidGandalf,shakinghishead.
’Weshallsee,’saidBilbo.
ThenextdaymorecartsrolleduptheHill,andstillmorecarts.Theremighthavebeensomegrumblingabout’dealinglocally’,butthatveryweekordersbegantopouroutofBagEndforeverykindofprovision,commodity,orluxurythatcouldbeobtainedinHobbitonorBywateroranywhereintheneighbourhood.Peoplebecameenthusiastic;andtheybegantotickoffthedaysonthecalendar;andtheywatchedeagerlyforthepostman,hopingforinvitations.
Beforelongtheinvitationsbeganpouringout,andtheHobbitonpost-officewasblocked,andtheBywaterpost-officewassnowedunder,andvoluntaryassistantpostmenwerecalledfor.
