Хоббит
Queer Lodgings
"Doyoucalltwoseveral?"
"Well,no.Asamatteroffactthereweremorethantwo."
"Wherearethey?Killed,eaten,gonehome?"
"Well,no.Theydon’tseemalltohavecomewhenIwhistled.Shy,Iexpect.Yousee,weareverymuchafraidthatweareratheralotforyoutoentertain."
"Goon,whistleagain!Iaminforaparty,itseems,andoneortwomorewon’tmakemuchdifference,"growledBeorn.
Gandalfwhistledagain;butNoriandOriweretherealmostbeforehehadstopped,for,ifyouremember,Gandalfhadtoldthemtocomeinpairseveryfiveminutes.
"Hullo!"saidBeorn."Youcameprettyquick-wherewereyouhiding?Comeonmyjack-in-the-boxes!"
"Noriatyourservice,Oriat..."theybegan;butBeorninterruptedthem.
"Thankyou!WhenIwantyourhelpIwillaskforit.Sitdown,andlet’sgetonwiththistale,oritwillbesupper-timebeforeitisended.""Assoonaswewereasleep,"wentonGandalf,"acrackatthebackofthecaveopened;goblinscameoutandgrabbedthehobbitandthedwarvesandourtroopofponies-""Troopofponies?Whatwereyou-atravellingcircus?Orwereyoucarryinglotsofgoods?Ordoyoualwayscallsixatroop?"
"Ono!Asamatteroffactthereweremorethansixponies,forthereweremorethansixofus-andwell,herearetwomore!"JustatthatmomentBalinandDwalinappearedandbowedsolowthattheirbeardssweptthestonefloor.
