the fellowship of the ring-第9章

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and　he　began　to　tremble。　
'I　don't　know　what　has　e　over　you；　Gandalf；'　he　said。　'You　have　neverbeen　like　this　before。　What　is　it　all　about？　It　is　mine　isn't　it？　I　found　it；　
and　Gollum　would　have　killed　me；　if　I　hadn't　kept　it。　I'm　not　a　thief；　
whatever　he　said。'　　
'I　have　never　called　you　one；'　Gandalf　answered。　'And　I　am　not　oneeither。　I　am　not　trying　to　rob　you；　but　to　help　you。　I　wish　you　would　trustme；　as　you　used。'　He　turned　away；　and　the　shadow　passed。　He　seemed　to　dwindleagain　to　an　old　grey　man；　bent　and　troubled。　
Bilbo　drew　his　hand　over　his　eyes。　I　am　sorry；'　he　said。　'But　I　felt　soqueer。　And　yet　it　would　be　a　relief　in　a　way　not　to　be　bothered　with　it　anymore。　It　has　been　so　growing　on　my　mind　lately。　Sometimes　I　have　felt　it　waslike　an　eye　looking　at　me。　And　I　am　always　wanting　to　put　it　on　and　disappear；　
don't　you　know；　or　wondering　if　it　is　safe；　and　pulling　it　out　to　make　sure。　Itried　locking　it　up；　but　I　found　I　couldn't　rest　without　it　in　my　pocket。　Idon't　know　why。　And　I　don't　seem　able　to　make　up　my　mind。'　
'Then　trust　mine；'　said　Gandalf。　'It　is　quite　made　up。　Go　away　and　leaveit　behind。　Stop　possessing　it。　Give　it　to　Frodo；　and　I　will　look　after　him。'　
Bilbo　stood　for　a　moment　tense　and　undecided。　Presently　he　sighed。　'Allright；'　he　said　with　an　effort。　I　will。'　Then　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　andsmiled　rather　ruefully。　'After　all　that's　what　this　party　business　was　allabout；　really：　to　give　away　lots　of　birthday　presents；　and　somehow　make　iteasier　to　give　it　away　at　the　same　time。　It　hasn't　made　it　any　easier　in　theend；　but　it　would　be　a　pity　to　waste　all　my　preparations。　It　would　quite　spoilthe　joke。'　
'Indeed　it　would　take　away　the　only　point　I　ever　saw　in　the　affair；'　saidGandalf。　　
'Very　well；'　said　Bilbo；　'it　goes　to　Frodo　with　all　the　rest。'　He　drew　adeep　breath。　'And　now　I　really　must　be　starting；　or　somebody　else　will　catchme。　I　have　said　good…bye；　and　I　couldn't　bear　to　do　it　all　over　again。'　Hepicked　up　his　bag　and　moved　to　the　door。　
'You　have　still　got　the　ring　in　your　pocket；'　said　the　wizard。　'Well；　soI　have！'　cried　Bilbo。　'And　my　will　and　all　the　other　documents　too。　You　hadbetter　take　it　and　deliver　it　for　me。　That　will　be　safest。'　　
'No；　don't　give　the　ring　to　me；'　said　Gandalf。　'Put　it　on　themantelpiece。　It　will　be　safe　enough　there；　till　Frodo　es。　I　shall　wait　forhim。'　　
Bilbo　took　out　the　envelope；　but　just　as　he　was　about　to　set　it　by　theclock；　his　hand　jerked　back；　and　the　packet　fell　on　the　floor。　Before　he　couldpick　it　up；　the　wizard　stooped　and　seized　it　and　set　it　in　its　place。　A　spasmof　anger　passed　swiftly　over　the　hobbit's　face　again。　Suddenly　it　gave　way　toa　look　of　relief　and　a　laugh。　'Well；　that's　that；'　he　said。　'Now　I'm　off！'　
They　went　out　into　the　hall。　Bilbo　chose　his　favourite　stick　from　thestand；　then　he　whistled。　Three　dwarves　came　out　of　different　rooms　where　theyhad　been　busy。　
'Is　everything　ready？'　asked　Bilbo。　'Everything　packed　and　labelled？'　
'Everything；'　they　answered。　
'Well；　let's　start　then！'　He　stepped　out　of　the　front…door。　
It　was　a　fine　night；　and　the　black　sky　was　dotted　with　stars。　He　looked　　
　
up；　sniffing　the　air。　'What　fun！　What　fun　to　be　off　again；　off　on　the　Roadwith　dwarves！　This　is　what　I　have　really　been　longing　for；　for　years！　Goodbye！　　
'　he　said；　looking　at　his　old　home　and　bowing　to　the　door。　'Good…bye；　
Gandalf！'　　
'Good…bye；　for　the　present；　Bilbo。　Take　care　of　yourself！　You　are　oldenough；　and　perhaps　wise　enough。'　
'Take　care！　I　don't　care。　Don't　you　worry　about　me！　I　am　as　happy　now　asI　have　ever　been；　and　that　is　saying　a　great　deal。　But　the　time　has　e。　I　ambeing　swept　off　my　feet　at　last；'　he　added；　and　then　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　tohimself；　he　sang　softly　in　the　dark：　　
The　Road　goes　ever　on　and　on　
Down　from　the　door　where　it　began。　
Now　far　ahead　the　Road　has　gone；　
And　I　must　follow；　if　I　can；　
Pursuing　it　with　eager　feet；　
Until　it　joins　some　larger　way　
Where　many　paths　and　errands　meet。　
And　whither　then？　I　cannot　say。　　
He　paused；　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　without　another　word　he　turned　awayfrom　the　lights　and　voices　in　the　fields　and　tents；　and　followed　by　his　threepanions　went　round　into　his　garden；　and　trotted　down　the　long　sloping　path。　
He　jumped　over　a　low　place　in　the　hedge　at　the　bottom；　and　took　to　themeadows；　passing　into　the　night　like　a　rustle　of　wind　in　the　grass。　
Gandalf　remained　for　a　while　staring　after　him　into　the　darkness。　
'Goodbye；　my　dear　Bilbo　–　until　our　next　meeting！'　he　said　softly　and　wentback　indoors。　　
Frodo　came　in　soon　afterwards；　and　found　him　sitting　in　the　dark；　deep　inthought。　'Has　he　gone？'　he　asked。　
'Yes；'　answered　Gandalf；　'he　has　gone　at　last。'　
'　I　wish　–　I　mean；　I　hoped　until　this　evening　that　it　was　only　a　joke；'　
said　Frodo。　'But　I　knew　in　my　heart　that　he　really　meant　to　go。　He　always　usedto　joke　about　serious　things。　I　wish　I　had　e　back　sooner；　just　to　see　himoff。'　　
I　think　really　he　preferred　slipping　off　quietly　in　the　end；'　saidGandalf。　'Don't　be　too　troubled。　He'll　be　all　right　–　now。　He　left　a　packetfor　you。　There　it　is！'　
Frodo　took　the　envelope　from　the　mantelpiece；　and　glanced　at　it；　but　didnot　open　it。　
'You'll　find　his　will　and　all　the　other　documents　in　there；　I　think；'　
said　the　wizard。　'You　are　the　master　of　Bag　End　now。　And　also；　I　fancy；　you'llfind　a　golden　ring。'　
'The　ring！'　exclaimed　Frodo。　'Has　he　left　me　that？　I　wonder　why。　Still；　
it　may　be　useful。'　
'It　may；　and　it　may　not；'　said　Gandalf。　'I　should　not　make　use　of　it；　ifI　were　you。　But　keep　it　secret；　and　keep　it　safe！　Now　I　am　going　to　bed。'　
As　master　of　Bag　End　Frodo　felt　it　his　painful　duty　to　say　good…bye　tothe　guests。　Rumours　of　strange　events　had　by　now　spread　all　over　the　field；　
but　Frodo　would　only　say　_no　doubt　everything　will　be　cleared　up　in　themorning_。　About　midnight　carriages　came　for　the　important　folk。　One　by　onethey　rolled　away；　filled　with　full　but　very　unsatisfied　hobbits。　Gardenerscame　by　arrangement；　and　removed　in　wheel…barrows　those　that　had　inadvertentlyremained　behind。　　
Night　slowly　passed。　The　sun　rose。　The　hobbits　rose　rather　later。　Morningwent　on。　People　came　and　began　（by　orders）　to　clear　away　the　pavilions　and　thetables　and　the　chairs；　and　the　spoons　and　knives　and　bottles　and　plates；　andthe　lanterns；　and　the　flowering　shrubs　in　boxes；　and　the　crumbs　and　cracker…　
paper；　the　forgotten　bags　and　gloves　and　handkerchiefs；　and　the　uneaten　food（a　very　small　item）。　Then　a　number　of　other　people　came　（without　orders）：　　
　
Bagginses；　and　Boffins；　and　Bolgers；　and　Tooks；　and　other　guests　that　lived　orwere　staying　near。　By　mid…day；　when　even　the　best…fed　were　out　and　aboutagain；　there　was　a　large　crowd　at　Bag　End；　uninvited　but　not　unexpected。　
Frodo　was　waiting　on　the　step；　smiling；　but　looking　rather　tired　andworried。　He　weled　all　the　callers；　but　he　had　not　much　more　to　say　thanbefore。　His　reply　to　all　inquiries　was　simply　this：　'Mr。　Bilbo　Baggins　hasgone　away；　as　far　as　I　know；　for　good。'　Some　of　the　visitors　he　invited　toe　inside；　as　Bilbo　had　left　'messages'　for　them。　
Inside　in　the　hall　there　was　piled　a　large　assortment　of　packages　andparcels　and　small　articles　of　furniture。　On　every　item　there　was　a　label　tied。　
There　were　several　labels　of　this　sort：　　
_For　ADELARD　TOOK；　for　his　VERY　OWN；　from　Bilbo；_　on　an　umbrella。　Adelardhad　carried　off　many　unlabelled　ones。　
_For　DORA　BAGGINS　in　memory　of　a　LONG　correspondence；　with　love　fromBilbo；_　on　a　large　waste…paper　basket。　Dora　was　Drogo's　sister　and　the　eldestsurviving　female　relative　of　Bilbo　and　Frodo；　she　was　ninety…nine；　and　hadwritten　reams　of　good　advice　for　more　than　half　a　century。　
_For　MILO　BURROWS；　hoping　it　will　be　useful；　from　B。B。；_　on　a　gold　penand　ink…bottle。　Milo　never　answered　letters。　　
_For　ANGELICA'S　use；　from　Uncle　Bilbo；_　on　a　round　convex　mirror。　She　wasa　young　Baggins；　and　too　obviously　considered　her　face　shapely。　
_For　the　collection　of　HUGO　BRACEGIRDLE；　from　a　contributor；_　on　an（empty）　book…case。　Hugo　was　a　great　borrower　of　books；　and　worse　than　usual　atreturning　them。　
_For　LOBELIA　SACKVILLE…BAGGINS；　as　a　PRESENT；_　on　a　case　of　silverspoons。　Bilbo　believed　that　she　had　acquired　a　good　many　of　his　spoons；　whilehe　was　away　on　his　former　journey。　Lobelia　knew　that　quite　well。　When　shearrived　later　in　the　day；　she　took　the　point　at　once；　but　she　also　took　thespoons。　
This　is　only　a　small　selection　of　the　assembled　presents。　Bilbo'sresidence　had　got　rather　cluttered　up　with　things　in　the　course　of　his　longlife。　It　was　a　tendency　of　hobbit…holes　to　get　cluttered　up：　for　which　thecustom　of　giving　so　many　birthday…presents　was　largely　responsible。　Not；　ofcourse；　that　the　birthday…presents　were　always　_new；_　there　were　one　or　twoold　_mathoms_　of　forgotten　uses　that　had　circulated　all　around　the　district；　
but　Bilbo　had　usually　given　new　presents；　and　kept　those　that　he　received。　Theold　hole　was　now　being　cleared　a　little。　
Every　one　of　the　various　parting　gifts　had　labels；　written　out　personallyby　Bilbo；　and　several　had　some　point；　or　some　joke。　But；　of　course；　most　ofthe　things　were　given　where　they　would　be　wanted　and　wele。　The　poorerhobbits；　and　especially　those　of　Bagshot　Row；　did　very　well。　Old　Gaffer　Gamgeegot　two　sacks　of　potatoes；　a　new　spade；　a　woollen　waistcoat；　and　a　bottle　ofointment　for　creaking　joints。　Old　Rory　Brandybuck；　in　return　for　muchhospitality；　got　a　dozen　bottles　of　Old　Winyards：　a　strong　red　wine　from　theSouthfarthing；　and　now　quite　mature；　as　it　had　been　laid　down　by　Bilbo'sfather。　Rory　quite　forgave　Bilbo；　and　voted　him　a　capital　fellow　after　thefirst　bottle。　　
There　was　plenty　of　everything　left　for　Frodo。　And；　of　course；　all　thechief　treasures；　as　well　as　the　books；　pictures；　and　more　than　enoughfurniture；　were　left　in　his　possession。　There　was；　however；　no　sign　normention　of　money　or　jewellery：　not　a　penny…piece　or　a　glass　bead　was　givenaway。　
Frodo　had　a　very　trying　time　that　afternoon。　A　false　rumour　that　thewhole　household　was　being　distributed　free　spread　like　wildfire；　and　beforelong　the　place　was　packed　with　people　who　had　no　business　there；　but　could　notbe　kept　out。　Labels　got　torn　off　and　mixed；　and　quarrels　broke　out。　Somepeople　tried　to　do　swaps　and　deals　in　the　hall；　and　others　tried　to　make　_off_　
with　minor　items　not　addressed　to　them；　or　with　anything　that　seemed　unwantedor　unwatched。　The　road　to　the　gate　was　blocked　with　barrows　and　handcarts。　
In　the　middle　of　the　motion　the　Sackville…Bagginses　arrived。　Frodo　had　　
　
retired　for　a　while　and　left　his　friend　Merry　Brandybuck　to　keep　an　eye　on　
things。　When　Otho　loudly　demanded　to　see　Frodo；　Merry　bowed　politely。　
'He　is　indisposed；'　he　said。　'He　is　resting。'　
'Hiding；　you　mean；'　said　Lobelia。　'Anyway　we　want　to　see　him　and　we　meanto　see　him。　Just　go　and　tell　him　so！'　
Merry　left　them　a　long　while　in　the　hall；　and　they　had　time　to　discovertheir　parting　gift　of　spoons。　It　did　not　improve　their　tempers。　Eventuallythey　were　shown　into　the　study。　Frodo　was　sitting　at　a　table　with　a　lot　ofpapers　in　front　of　him。　He　looked　indisposed　–　to　see　Sackville…Bagginses　atany　rate；　and　he　stood　up；　fidgeting　with　something　in　his　pocket。　But　hespoke　quite　politely。　
The　Sackville…Bagginses　were　rather　offensive。　They　began　by　offering　himbad　bargain…prices　（as