Хоббит
The Last Stage
ThepeoplewhohadgotspeciallygoodbargainsattheSaletookadealofconvincing;andintheendtosav6timeBilbohadtobuybackquitealotofhisownfurniture.Manyofhissilverspoonsmysteriouslydisappearedandwereneveraccountedfor.PersonallyhesuspectedtheSackville-Bagginses.OntheirsidetheyneveradmittedthatthereturnedBagginswasgenuine,andtheywerenotonfriendlytermswithBilboeverafter.Theyreallyhadwantedtoliveinhisnicehobbit-holesoverymuch.
IndeedBilbofoundhehadlostmorethanspoons-hehadlosthisreputation.Itistruethatforeverafterheremainedanelf-friend,andhadthehonourofdwarves,wizards,andallsuchfolkaseverpassedthatway;buthewasnolongerquiterespectable.Hewasinfactheldbyallthehobbitsoftheneighbourhoodtobe’queer’-exceptbyhisnephewsandniecesontheTookside,buteventheywerenotencouragedintheirfriendshipbytheirelders.Iamsorrytosayhedidnotmind.Hewasquitecontent;andthesoundofthekettleonhishearthwaseveraftermoremusicalthanithadbeeneveninthequietdaysbeforetheUnexpectedParty.Hisswordhehungoverthemantelpiece.Hiscoatofmailwasarrangedonastandinthehall(untilhelentittoaMuseum).Hisgoldandsilverwaslargelyspentinpresents,bothusefulandextravagant-whichtoacertainextentaccountsfortheaffectionofhisnephewsandhisnieces.Hismagicringhekeptagreatsecret,forhechieflyuseditwhenunpleasantcallerscame.
