Хоббит

           AlargehousewasgivenuptoThorinandhiscompany;boatsandrowerswereputattheirservice;andcrowdssatoutsideandsangsongsallday,orcheeredifanydwarfshowedsomuchashisnose.

           Someofthesongswereoldones;butsomeofthemwerequitenewandspokeconfidentlyofthesuddendeathofthedragonandofcargoesofrichpresentscomingdowntherivertoLake-town.ThesewereinspiredlargelybytheMasterandtheydidnotparticularlypleasethedwarves,butinthemeantimetheywerewellcontentedandtheyquicklygrewfatandstrongagain.Indeedwithinaweektheywerequiterecovered,fittedoutinfineclothoftheirpropercolours,withbeardscombedandtrimmed,andproudsteps.ThorinlookedandwalkedasifhiskingdomwasalreadyregainedandSmaugchoppedupintolittlepieces.

           Then,ashehadsaid,thedwarves’goodfeelingtowardsthelittlehobbitgrewstrongereveryday.Therewerenomoregroansorgrumbles.Theydrankhishealth,andtheypattedhimontheback,andtheymadeagreatfussofhim;whichwasjustaswell,forhewasnotfeelingparticularlycheerful.HehadnotforgottenthelookoftheMountain,northethoughtofthedragon,andhehadbesidesashockingcold.Forthreedayshesneezedandcoughed,andhecouldnotgoout,andevenafterthathisspeechesatbanquetswerelimitedto"Thagyouverybuch."

           InthemeanwhiletheWood-elveshadgonebackuptheForestRiverwiththeircargoes,andtherewasgreatexcitementintheking’spalace.Ihaveneverheardwhathappenedtothechiefoftheguardsandthebutler.