Inside Information

           Foralongtimethedwarvesstoodinthedarkbeforethedooranddebated,untilatlastThorinspoke:

           "NowisthetimeforouresteemedMr.Baggins,whohasprovedhimselfagoodcompaniononourlongroad,andahobbitfullofcourageandresourcefarexceedinghissize,andifImaysaysopossessedofgoodluckfarexceedingtheusualallowance-nowisthetimeforhimtoperformtheserviceforwhichhewasincludedinourCompany;nowisthetimeforhimtoearnhisReward."YouarefamiliarwithThorin’sstyleonimportantoccasions,soIwillnotgiveyouanymoreofit,thoughhewentonagooddeallongerthanthis.Itcertainlywasanimportantoccasion,butBilbofeltimpatient.BynowhewasquitefamiliarwithThorintoo,andheknewwhatbewasdrivingat."Ifyoumeanyouthinkitismyjobtogointothesecretpassagefirst,OThorinThrain’ssonOakenshield,mayyourbeardgroweverlonger,"hesaidcrossly,"saysoatonceandhavedone!Imightrefuse.Ihavegotyououtoftwomessesalready,whichwerehardlyintheoriginalbargain,sothatIam,Ithink,alreadyowedsomereward.But’thirdtimepaysforall’asmyfatherusedtosay,andsomehowIdon’tthinkIshallrefuse.PerhapsIhavebeguntotrustmyluckmorethanIusedtointheolddays"-hemeantlastspringbeforehelefthisownhouse,butitseemedcenturiesago-"butanywayIthinkIwillgoandhaveapeepatonceandgetitover.Nowwhoiscomingwithme?"

           Hedidnotexpectachorusofvolunteers,sohewasnotdisappointed.