Хоббит
Queer Lodgings
Thedogscouldstandontheirhind-legswhentheywished,andcarrythingswiththeirfore-feet.Quicklytheygotoutboardsandtrestlesfromthesidewallsandsetthemupnearthefire.
Thenbaa-baa-baa!washeard,andincamesomesnow-whitesheepledbyalargecoal-blackram.Oneboreawhiteclothembroideredattheedgeswithfiguresofanimals;othersboreontheirbroadbackstrayswithbowlsandplattersandknivesandwoodenspoons,whichthedogstookandquicklylaidonthetrestletables.Thesewereverylow,lowenoughevenforBilbotositatcomfortably.Besidethemaponypushedtwolow-seatedbencheswithwiderush-bottomsandlittleshortthicklegsforGandalfandThorin,whileatthefarendheputBeorn’sbigblackchairofthesamesort(inwhichhesatwithhisgreatlegsstuckfaroutunderthetable).Thesewereallthechairshehadinhishall,andheprobablyhadthemlowlikethetablesfortheconvenienceofthewonderfulanimalsthatwaitedonhim.Whatdidtherestsiton?Theywerenotforgotten.Theotherponiescameinrollingrounddrum-shapedsectionsoflogs,smoothedandpolished,andlowenoughevenforBilbo;sosoontheywereallseatedatBeorn’stable,andthehallhadnotseensuchagatheringformanyayear.
Theretheyhadasupper,oradinner,suchastheyhadnothadsincetheylefttheLastHomelyHouseintheWestandsaidgood-byetoElrond.Thelightofthetorchesandthefireflickeredaboutthem,andonthetableweretwotallredbeeswaxcandles.Allthetimetheyate,Beorninhisdeeprollingvoicetoldtalesofthewildlandsonthissideofthemountains,andespeciallyofthedarkanddangerouswood,thatlayoutstretchedfartoNorthandSouthaday’sridebeforethem,barringtheirwaytotheEast,theterribleforestofMirkwood.
