Хоббит
Barrels Out of Bond
Thorinhadgivenalotoftrouble,andturnedandtwistedinhistubandgrumbledlikealargedoginasmallkennel;whileBalin,whocamelast,madeagreatfussabouthisair-holesandsaidhewasstifling,evenbeforehislidwason.Bilbohaddonewhathecouldtocloseholesinthesidesofthebarrels,andtofixonallthelidsassafelyascouldbemanaged,andnowhewasleftaloneagain,runningroundputtingthefinishingtouches-tothepacking,andhopingagainsthopethathisplanwouldcomeoff.
Ithadnotbeena-bittoosoon.OnlyaminuteortwoafterBalin’slidhadbeenfittedontherecamethesoundofvoicesandtheflickeroflights.Anumberofelvescamelaughingandtalkingintothecellarsandsingingsnatchesofsong.Theyhadleftamerryfeastinoneofthehallsandwerebentonreturningassoonastheycould."Where’soldGalion,thebutler?"saidone."Ihaven’tseenhimatthetablestonight.Heoughttobeherenowtoshowuswhatistobedone."
"Ishallbeangryiftheoldslowcoachislate,"saidanother."Ihavenowishtowastetimedownherewhilethesongisup!"
"Ha,ha!"cameacry."Here’stheoldvillainwithhisheadonajug!
He’sbeenhavingalittlefeastalltohimselfandhisfriendthecaptain.""Shakehim!Wakehim!"shoutedtheothersimpatiently.Gallonwasnotatallpleasedatbeingshakenorwakened,andstilllessatbeinglaughedat."You’realllate,"hegrumbled."HereamIwaitingandwaitingdownhere,whileyoufellowsdrinkandmakemerryandforgetyourtasks.
