jrt.the hobbit-第2章

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e　pushed　inside；　just　as　if　he　had　been　expected。　　He　hung　his　hooded　cloak　on　the　nearest　peg；　and　〃Dwalin　at　your　service！〃　he　said　with　a　low　bow。
　〃Bilbo　Baggins　at　yours！〃　said　the　hobbit；　too　surprised　to　ask　any　questions　for　the　moment。　When　the　silence　that　followed　had　bee　unfortable；　he　added：　〃I　am　just　about　to　take　tea；　pray　e　and　have　some　with　me。〃　A　little　stiff　perhaps；　but　he　meant　it　kindly。　And　what　would　you　do；　if　an　uninvited　dwarf　came　and　hung　his　things　up　in　your　hall　without　a　word　of　explanation？
　They　had　not　been　at　table　long；　in　fact　they　had　hardly　reached　the　third　cake；　when　there　came　another　even　louder　ring　at　the　bell。　　〃Excuse　me！〃　said　the　hobbit；　and　off　he　went　to　the　door。　　〃So　you　have　got　here　at　last！〃　was　what　he　was　going　to　say　to　Gandalf　this　time。　But　it　was　not　Gandalf。　Instead　there　was　a　very　old…looking　dwarf　on　the　step　with　a　white　beard　and　a　scarlet　hood；　and　he　too　hopped　inside　as　soon　as　the　door　was　open；　just　as　if　he　had　been　invited。　　〃I　see　they　have　begun　to　arrive　already；〃　he　said　when　he　caught　sight　of　Dwalin's　green　hood　hanging　up。　He　hung　his　red　one　next　to　it；　and　〃Balin　at　your　service！〃　he　said　with　his　hand　on　his　breast。
　〃Thank　you！〃　said　Bilbo　with　a　gasp。　It　was　not　the　correct　thing　to　say；　but　they　have　begun　to　arrive　had　flustered　him　badly。　He　liked　visitors；　but　he　liked　to　know　them　before　they　arrived；　and　he　preferred　to　ask　them　himself。　He　had　a　horrible　thought　that　the　cakes　might　run　short；　and　then　he…as　the　host：　he　knew　his　duty　and　stuck　to　it　however　painful…he　might　have　to　go　without。
　〃e　along　in；　and　have　some　tea！〃　he　managed　to　say　after　taking　a　deep　breath。
　〃A　little　beer　would　suit　me　better；　if　it　is　all　the　same　to　you；　my　good　sir；〃　said　Balin　with　the　white　beard。　〃But　I　don't　mind　some　cake…seed…cake；　if　you　have　any。〃
　〃Lots！〃　Bilbo　found　himself　answering；　to　his　own　surprise；　and　he　found　himself　scuttling　off；　too；　to　the　cellar　to　fill　a　pint　beer…mug；　and　to　the　pantry　to　fetch　two　beautiful　round　seed…cakes　which　he　had　baked　that　afternoon　for　his　after…supper　morsel。
　When　he　got　back　Balin　and　Dwalin　were　talking　at　the　table　like　old　friends　（as　a　matter　of　fact　they　were　brothers）。　Bilbo　plumped　down　the　beer　and　the　cake　in　front　of　them；　when　loud　came　a　ring　at　the　bell　again；　and　then　another　ring。
　〃Gandalf　for　certain　this　time；〃　he　thought　as　he　puffed　along　the　passage。　But　it　was　not。　It　was　two　more　dwarves；　both　with　blue　hoods；　silver　belts；　and　yellow　beards；　and　each　of　them　carried　a　bag　of　tools　and　a　spade。　　In　they　hopped；　as　soon　as　the　door　began　to　open…Bilbo　was　hardly　surprised　at　all。
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　my　dwarves？〃　he　said。　〃Kili　at　your　service！〃
　said　the　one。　〃And　Fili！〃　added　the　other；　and　they　both　swept　off　their　blue　hoods　and　bowed。
　〃At　yours　and　your　family's！〃　replied　Bilbo；　remembering　his　manners　this　time。
　〃Dwalin　and　Balin　here　already；　I　see；〃　said　Kili。　〃Let　us　join　the　throng！〃
　〃Throng！〃　thought　Mr。　Baggins。　〃I　don't　like　the　sound　of　that。　I　really　must　sit　down　for　a　minute　and　collect　my　wits；　and　have　a　drink。〃　He　had　only　just　had　a　sip…in　the　corner；　while　the　four　dwarves　sat　around　the　table；　and　talked　about　mines　and　gold　and　troubles　with　the　goblins；　and　the　depredations　of　dragons；　and　lots　of　other　things　which　he　did　not　understand；　and　did　not　want　to；　for　they　sounded　much　too　adventurous…when；　ding…dong…a…ling…'　dang；　his　bell　rang　again；　as　if　some　naughty　little　hobbit…boy　was　trying　to　pull　the　handle　off。　〃Someone　at　the　door！〃　he　said；　blinking。　〃Some　four；　I　should　say　by　the　sound；〃　said　Fili。　〃Be…sides；　we　saw　them　ing　along　behind　us　in　the　distance。〃
　The　poor　little　hobbit　sat　down　in　the　hall　and　put　his　head　in　his　hands；　and　wondered　what　had　happened；　and　what　was　going　to　happen；　and　whether　they　would　all　stay　to　supper。　Then　the　bell　rang　again　louder　than　ever；　and　he　had　to　run　to　the　door。　It　was　not　four　after　all；　it　was　FIVE。　　Another　dwarf　had　e　along　while　he　was　wondering　in　the　hall。　He　had　hardly　turned　the　knob；　be…x）re　they　were　all　inside；　bowing　and　saying　〃at　your　service〃　one　after　another。　Dori；　Nori；　Ori；　Oin；　and　Gloin　were　their　names；　and　very　soon　two　purple　hoods；　a　grey　hood；　a　brown　hood；　and　a　white　hood　were　hanging　on　the　pegs；　and　off　they　marched　with　their　broad　hands　stuck　in　their　gold　and　silver　belts　to　join　the　others。　Already　it　had　almost　bee　a　throng。　Some　called　for　ale；　and　some　for　porter；　and　one　for　coffee；　and　all　of　them　for　cakes；　so　the　hobbit　was　kept　very　busy　for　a　while。　　A　big　jug　of　coffee　bad　just　been　set　in　the　hearth；　the　seed…cakes　were　gone；　and　the　dwarves　were　starting　on　a　round　of　buttered　scones；　when　there　came…a　loud　knock。　Not　a　ring；　but　a　hard　rat…tat　on　the　hobbit's　beautiful　green　door。　Somebody　was　banging　with　a　stick！
　Bilbo　rushed　along　the　passage；　very　angry；　and　altogether　bewildered　and　bewuthered…this　was　the　most　awkward　Wednesday　he　ever　remembered。　He　pulled　open　the　door　with　a　jerk；　and　they　all　fell　in；　one　on　top　of　the　other。　More　dwarves；　four　more！　And　there　was　Gandalf　behind；　leaning　on　his　staff　and　laughing。　He　had　made　quite　a　dent　on　the　beautiful　door；　he　had　also；　by　the　way；　knocked　out　the　secret　mark　that　he　had　put　there　the　morning　before。　　〃Carefully！　Carefully！〃　he　said。　〃It　is　not　like　you；　Bilbo；　to　keep　friends　waiting　on　the　mat；　and　then　open　the　door　like　a　pop…gun！　Let　me　introduce　Bifur；　Bofur；　Bombur；　and　especially　Thorin！〃　〃At　your　service！〃　said　Bifur；　Bofur；　and　Bombur　standing　in　a　row。　Then　they　hung　up　two　yellow　hoods　and　a　pale　green　one；　and　also　a　sky…blue　one　with　a　long　silver　tassel。　This　last　belonged　to　Thorin；　an　enormously　important　dwarf；　in　fact　no　other　than　the　great　Thorin　Oakenshield　himself；　who　was　not　at　all　pleased　at　falling　flat　on　Bilbo's　mat　with　Bifur；　Bofur；　and　Bombur　on　top　of　him。　For　one　thing　Bombur　was　immensely　fat　and　heavy。　　Thorin　indeed　was　very　haughty；　and　said　nothing　about　service；　but　poor　Mr。　　Baggins　said　he　was　sorry　so　many　times；　that　at　last　he　grunted　〃pray　don't　mention　it；〃　and　stopped　frowning。
　〃Now　we　are　all　here！〃　said　Gandalf；　looking　at　the　row　of　thirteen　hoods…the　best　detachable　party　hoods…and　his　own　hat　hanging　on　the　pegs。　　〃Quite　a　merry　gathering！
　I　hope　there　is　something　left　for　the　late…ers　to　eat　and　drink！　　What's　that？　Tea！　No　thank　you！　A　little　red　wine；　I　think；　for　me。〃　〃And　for　me；〃　said　Thorin。　〃And　raspberry　jam　and　apple…tart；〃　said　Bifur。　〃And　mince…pies　and　cheese；〃　said　Bofur。　〃And　pork…pie　and　salad；〃　said　Bombur。　〃And　more　cakes…and　ale…and　coffee；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　called　the　other　dwarves　through　the　door。
　〃Put　on　a　few　eggs；　there's　a　good　fellow！〃　Gandalf　called　after　him；　as
　the　hobbit　stumped　off　to　the　pantries。　〃And　just　bring　out　the　cold　chicken　and　pickles！〃
　〃Seems　to　know　as　much　about　the　inside　of　my　larders　as　I　do　myself！〃　thought　Mr。　Baggins；　who　was　feeling　positively　flummoxed；　and　was　beginning　to　wonder　whether　a　most　wretched　adventure　had　not　e　right　into　his　house。　　By　the　time　he　had　got　all　the　bottles　and　dishes　and　knives　and　forks　and　glasses　and　plates　and　spoons　and　things　piled　up　on　big　trays；　he　was　getting　very　hot；　and　red　in　the　face；　and　annoyed。
　〃Confusticate　and　bebother　these　dwarves！〃　he　said　aloud。　〃Why　don't　they　e　and　lend　a　hand？〃　Lo　and　behold！　there　stood　Balin　and　Dwalin　at　the　door　of　the　kitchen；　and　Fili　and　Kili　behind　them；　and　before　he　could　say　knife　they　had　whisked　the　trays　and　a　couple　of　small　tables　into　the　parlour　and　set　out　everything　afresh。
　Gandalf　sat　at　the　head　of　the　party　with　the　thirteen；　dwarves　all　round：　and　Bilbo　sat　on　a　stool　at　the　fireside；　nibbling　at　a　biscuit　（his　appetite　was　quite　taken　away）；　and　trying　to　look　as　if　this　was　all　perfectly　ordinary　and。　not　in　the　least　an　adventure。　The　dwarves　ate　and　ate；　and　talked　and　talked；　and　time　got　on。　At　last　they　pushed　their　chairs　back；　and　Bilbo　made　a　move　to　collect　the　plates　and　glasses。　　〃I　suppose　you　will　all　stay　to　supper？〃　he　said　in　his　politest　unpressing　tones。　〃Of　course！〃　said　Thorin。　〃And　after。　We　shan't　get　through　the　business　till　late；　and　we　must　have　some　music　first。　Now　to　clear　up！〃　Thereupon　the　twelve　dwarves…not　Thorin；　he　was　too　important；　and　stayed　talking　to　Gandalf…jumped　to　their　feet　and　made　tall　piles　of　all　the　things。　　Off　they　went；　not　waiting　for　trays；　balancing　columns　of　plates；　each　with　a　bottle　on　the　top；　with　one　hand；　while　the　hobbit　ran　after　them　almost　squeaking　with　fright：　〃please　be　careful！〃　and　〃please；　don't　trouble！　I　can　manage。〃　But　the　dwarves　only　started　to　sing：
　〃Chip　the　glasses　and　crack　the　plates！
　Blunt　the　knives　and　bend　the　forks！
　That's　what　Bilbo　Baggins　hates…
　Smash　the　bottles　and　burn　the　corks！
　Cut　the　cloth　and　tread　on　the　fat！
　Pour　the　milk　on　the　pantry　floor！
　Leave　the　bones　on　the　bedroom　mat！
　Splash　the　wine　on　every　door！
　Dump　the　crocks　in　a　boiling　bawl；
　Pound　them　up　with　a　thumping　pole；
　And　when　you've　finished；　if　any　are　whole；
　Send　them　down　the　hall　to　roll　！
　That's　what　Bilbo　Baggins　hates！
　So；　carefully！　carefully　with　the　plates！〃
　And　of　course　they　did　none　of　these　dreadful　things；　and　everything　was　cleaned　and　put　away　safe　as　quick　as　lightning；　while　the　hobbit　was　turning　round　and　round　in　the　middle　of　the　kitchen　trying　to　see　what　they　were　doing。　Then　they　went　back；　and　found　Thorin　with　his　feet　on　the　fender　smoking　a　pipe。　He　was　blowing　the　most　enormous　smoke…rings；　and　wherever　he　told　one　to　go；　it　went…up　the　chimney；　or　behind　the　clock　on　the　man…telpiece；　or　under　the　table；　or　round　and　round　the　ceiling；　but　wherever　it　went　it　was　not　quick　enough　to　escape　Gandalf。　Pop！　he　sent　a　smaller　smoke…ring　from　his　short　clay…pipe　straight　through　each　one　of　Thorin's。　The　Gandalf's　smoke…ring　would　go　green　and　e　back　to　hover　over　the　wizard's　head。　He　had　quite　a　cloud　of　them　about　him　already；　and　in　the　dim　light　it　made　him　look　strange　and　sorcerous。　Bilbo　stood　still　and　watched…he　loved　smoke…rings…and　then　be　blushed　to　think　how　proud　he　had　been　yesterday　morning　of　the　smoke…rings　he　had　sent　up　the　wind　over　The　Hill。　　〃Now　for　some　music！〃　said　Thorin。　〃Bring　out　the　instruments！〃
　Kili　and　Fili　rushed　for　their　bags　and　brought　back　little　fiddles；
　Dori；　Nori；　and　Ori　brought　out　flutes　from　somewhere　inside　their　coats；　Bombur　produced　a　drum　from　the　hall；　Bifur　and　Bofur　went　out　too；　and　came　back　with　clarinets　that　they　had　left　among　the　walking…sticks　Dwalin　and　Balin　said：　〃Excuse　me；　I　left　mine　in　the　porch！〃　〃Just　bring　mine　in　with　you；〃　said　Thorin。　They　came　back　with　viols　as　big　as　themselves；　and　with　Thorin's　harp　wrapped　in　a　green　cloth。　It　was　a　beautiful　gold…en　harp；　and　when　Thorin　struck　it　the　music　began　all　at　once；　so　sudden　and　sweet　that　Bilbo　forgot　everything　else；　and　was　swept　away　into　dark　lands　under　strange　moons；　far　over　The　Water　and　very　far　from　his　hobbit…hole　under　The　Hill。　　The　dark　came　into　the　room　from　the　little　window　that　opened　in　the　side　of　The　Hill；　the　firelight　flickered…it　was　April…an