Хоббит
The Last Stage
Afteraweek,therefore,hesaidfarewelltoElrond,andgivinghimsuchsmallgiftsashewouldaccept,herodeawaywithGandalf.EvenastheyleftthevalleytheskydarkenedintheWestbeforethem,andwindandraincameuptomeetthem.
"MerryisMay-time!"saidBilbo,astherainbeatintohisface."Butourbackistolegendsandwearecominghome.Isupposethisisafirsttasteofit."
"Thereisalongroadyet,"saidGandalf.
"Butitisthelastroad,"saidBilbo.TheycametotheriverthatmarkedtheveryedgeoftheborderlandoftheWild,andtothefordbeneaththesteepbank,whichyoumayremember.Thewaterwasswollenbothwiththemeltingofthesnowsattheapproachofsummer,andwiththedaylongrain;buttheycrossedwithsomedifficulty,andpressedforward,aseveningfell,onthelaststageoftheirjourney.Thiswasmuchasithadbeenbefore,exceptthatthecompanywassmaller,andmoresilent;alsothistimetherewerenotrolls.AteachpointontheroadBilborecalledthehappeningsandthewordsofayearago-itseemedtohimmoreliketen-sothat,ofcourse,hequicklynotedtheplacewheretheponyhadfallenintheriver,andtheyhadturnedasidefortheirnastyadventurewithTomandBertandBill.Notfarfromtheroadtheyfoundthegoldofthetrolls,whichtheyhadburied,stillhiddenanduntouched."Ihaveenoughtolastmemytime,"saidBilbo,whentheyhaddugitup."Youhadbettertakethis,Gandalf.Idaresayyoucanfindauseforit."
"IndeedIcan!"saidthewizard.
