Хоббит

           That’showtheyallcametostart,joggingofffromtheinnonefinemorningjustbeforeMay,onladenponies;andBilbowaswearingadark-greenhood(alittleweather-stained)andadark-greencloakborrowedfromDwalin.Theyweretoolargeforhim,andhelookedrathercomic.WhathisfatherBungowouldhavethoughtofhim,Idaren’tthink.Hisonlycomfortwashecouldn’tbemistakenforadwarf,ashehadnobeard.

           TheyhadnotbeenridingverylongwhenupcameGandalfverysplendidonawhitehorse.Hehadbroughtalotofpocket-handkerchiefs,andBilbo’spipeandtobacco.Soafterthatthepartywentalongverymerrily,andtheytoldstoriesorsangsongsastheyrodeforwardallday,exceptofcoursewhentheystoppedformeals.Thesedidn’tcomequiteasoftenasBilbowouldhavelikedthem,butstillhebegantofeelthatadventureswerenotsobadafterall.Atfirsttheyhadpassedthroughhobbit-lands,awildrespectablecountryinhabitedbydecentfolk,withgoodroads,aninnortwo,andnowandthenadwarforafarmeramblingbyonbusiness.Thentheycametolandswherepeoplespokestrangely,andsangsongsBilbohadneverheardbefore.NowtheyhadgoneonfarintotheLone-lands,wheretherewerenopeopleleft,noinns,andtheroadsgrewsteadilyworse.Notfaraheadweredrearyhills,risinghigherandhigher,darkwithtrees.Onsomeofthemwereoldcastleswithanevillook,asiftheyhadbeenbuiltbywickedpeople.Everythingseemedgloomy,fortheweatherthatdayhadtakenanastyturn.MostlyithadbeenasgoodasMaycanbe,eveninmerrytales,butnowitwascoldandwet.IntheLone-landstheyhadtocampwhentheycould,butatleastithadbeendry."TothinkitwillsoonbeJune,"grumbledBilboashesplashedalongbehindtheothersinaverymuddytrack.Itwasaftertea-time;itwaspouringwithrain,andhadbeenallday;hishoodwasdrippingintohiseyes,hiscloakwasfullofwater;theponywastiredandstumbledonstones;theothersweretoogrumpytotalk.