the fellowship of the ring-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e_eleventy…one；_　111；　a　rather　curious　number　and　a　very　respectable　age　for　ahobbit　（the　Old　Took　himself　had　only　reached　130）；　and　Frodo　was　going　to　be_thirty…three；_　33）　an　important　number：　the　date　of　his　'ing　of　age'。　
Tongues　began　to　wag　in　Hobbiton　and　Bywater；　and　rumour　of　the　ingevent　travelled　all　over　the　Shire。　The　history　and　character　of　Mr。　BilboBaggins　became　once　again　the　chief　topic　of　conversation；　and　the　older　folksuddenly　found　their　reminiscences　in　wele　demand。　
No　one　had　a　more　attentive　audience　than　old　Ham　Gamgee；　monly　knownas　the　Gaffer。　He　held　forth　at　_The　Ivy　Bush_；　a　small　inn　on　the　Bywater　　
　
road；　and　he　spoke　with　some　authority；　for　he　had　tended　the　garden　at　BagEnd　for　forty　years；　and　had　helped　old　Holman　in　the　same　job　before　that。　
Now　that　he　was　himself　growing　old　and　stiff　in　the　joints；　the　job　wasmainly　carried　on　by　his　youngest　son；　Sam　Gamgee。　Both　father　and　son　were　onvery　friendly　terms　with　Bilbo　and　Frodo。　They　lived　on　the　Hill　itself；　inNumber　3　Bagshot　Row　just　below　Bag　End。　
'A　very　nice　well…spoken　gentlehobbit　is　Mr。　Bilbo；　as　I've　alwayssaid；'　the　Gaffer　declared。　With　perfect　truth：　for　Bilbo　was　very　polite　tohim；　calling　him　'Master　Hamfast'；　and　consulting　him　constantly　upon　thegrowing　of　vegetables　–　in　the　matter　of　'roots'；　especially　potatoes；　theGaffer　was　recognized　as　the　leading　authority　by　all　in　the　neighbourhood（including　himself）。　
'But　what　about　this　Frodo　that　lives　with　him？'　asked　Old　Noakes　of　　
Bywater。　'Baggins　is　his　name；　but　he's　more　than　half　a　Brandybuck；　they　say。　
It　beats　me　why　any　Baggins　of　Hobbiton　should　go　looking　for　a　wife　awaythere　in　Buckland；　where　folks　are　so　queer。'　
'And　no　wonder　they're　queer；'　put　in　Daddy　Twofoot　（the　Gaffer's　next…　
door　neighbour）；　'if　they　live　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　Brandywine　River；　andright　agin　the　Old　Forest。　That's　a　dark　bad　place；　if　half　the　tales　betrue。'　　
'You're　right；　Dad！'　said　the　Gaffer。　'Not　that　the　Brandybucks　of　Buckland　　
live　_in_　the　Old　Forest；　but　they're　a　queer　breed；　seemingly。　They　foolabout　with　boats　on　that　big　river　–　and　that　isn't　natural。　Small　wonder　thattrouble　came　of　it；　I　say。　But　be　that　as　it　may；　Mr。　Frodo　is　as　nice　a　younghobbit　as　you　could　wish　to　meet。　Very　much　like　Mr。　Bilbo；　and　in　more　thanlooks。　After　all　his　father　was　a　Baggins。　A　decent　respectable　hobbit　was　Mr。　
Drogo　Baggins；　there　was　never　much　to　tell　of　him；　till　he　was　drownded。'　
'Drownded？'　said　several　voices。　They　had　heard　this　and　other　darkerrumours　before；　of　course；　but　hobbits　have　a　passion　for　family　history；　andthey　were　ready　to　hear　it　again。　'Well；　so　they　say；'　said　the　Gaffer。　'Yousee：　Mr。　Drogo；　he　married　poor　Miss　Primula　Brandybuck。　She　was　our　Mr。　
Bilbo's　first　cousin　on　the　mother's　side　（her　mother　being　the　youngest　ofthe　Old　Took's　daughters）；　and　Mr。　Drogo　was　his　second　cousin。　So　Mr。　Frodois　his　first　_and_　second　cousin；　once　removed　either　way；　as　the　saying　is；　
if　you　follow　me。　And　Mr。　Drogo　was　staying　at　Brandy　Hall　with　his　father…in…　
law；　old　Master　Gorbadoc；　as　he　often　did　after　his　marriage　（him　beingpartial　to　his　vittles；　and　old　Gorbadoc　keeping　a　mighty　generous　table）；　andhe　went　out　_boating_on　the　Brandywine　River；　and　he　and　his　wife　weredrownded；　and　poor　Mr。　Frodo　only　a　child　and　all。　'　
'I've　heard　they　went　on　the　water　after　dinner　in　the　moonlight；'　saidOld　Noakes；　'and　it　was　Drogo's　weight　as　sunk　the　boat。'　
'And　_I_　heard　she　pushed　him　in；　and　he　pulled　her　in　after　him；'　saidSandyman；　the　Hobbiton　miller。　
'You　shouldn't　listen　to　all　you　hear；　Sandyman；'　said　the　Gaffer；　whodid　not　much　like　the　miller。　'There　isn't　no　call　to　go　talking　of　pushingand　pulling。　Boats　are　quite　tricky　enough　for　those　that　sit　still　withoutlooking　further　for　the　cause　of　trouble。　Anyway：　there　was　this　Mr。　Frodoleft　an　orphan　and　stranded；　as　you　might　say；　among　those　queer　Bucklanders；　
being　brought　up　anyhow　in　Brandy　Hall。　A　regular　warren；　by　all　accounts。　OldMaster　Gorbadoc　never　had　fewer　than　a　couple　of　hundred　relations　in　theplace。　Mr。　Bilbo　never　did　a　kinder　deed　than　when　he　brought　the　lad　back　tolive　among　decent　folk。　
'But　I　reckon　it　was　a　nasty　shock　for　those　Sackville…Bagginses。　Theythought　they　were　going　to　get　Bag　End；　that　time　when　he　went　off　and　wasthought　to　be　dead。　And　then　he　es　back　and　orders　them　off；　and　he　goes　onliving　and　living；　and　never　looking　a　day　older；　bless　him！　And　suddenly　heproduces　an　heir；　and　has　all　the　papers　made　out　proper。　The　Sackville…　
Bagginses　won't　never　see　the　inside　of　Bag　End　now；　or　it　is　to　be　hopednot。'　　
'There's　a　tidy　bit　of　money　tucked　away　up　there；　I　hear　tell；'　said　a　　
　
stranger；　a　visitor　on　business　from　Michel　Delving　in　the　Westfarthing。　'Allthe　top　of　your　hill　is　full　of　tunnels　packed　with　chests　of　gold　and　silver；　
_and_jools；　by　what　I've　heard。　'　
'Then　you've　heard　more　than　I　can　speak　to；'　answered　the　Gaffer。　I　knownothing　about　_jools。_　Mr。　Bilbo　is　free　with　his　money；　and　there　seems　nolack　of　it；　but　I　know　of　no　tunnel…making。　I　saw　Mr。　Bilbo　when　he　came　back；　
a　matter　of　sixty　years　ago；　when　I　was　a　lad。　I'd　not　long　e　prentice　toold　Holman　（him　being　my　dad's　cousin）；　but　he　had　me　up　at　Bag　End　helpinghim　to　keep　folks　from　trampling　and　trapessing　all　over　the　garden　while　thesale　was　on。　And　in　the　middle　of　it　all　Mr。　Bilbo　es　up　the　Hill　with　apony　and　some　mighty　big　bags　and　a　couple　of　chests。　I　don't　doubt　they　weremostly　full　of　treasure　he　had　picked　up　in　foreign　parts；　where　there　bemountains　of　gold；　they　say；　but　there　wasn't　enough　to　fill　tunnels。　But　mylad　Sam　will　know　more　about　that。　He's　in　and　out　of　Bag　End。　Crazy　aboutstories　of　the　old　days　he　is；　and　he　listens　to　all　Mr。　Bilbo's　tales。　Mr。　
Bilbo　has　learned　him　his　letters　–　meaning　no　harm；　mark　you；　and　I　hope　noharm　will　e　of　it。　　
_'Elves　and　Dragons'_　I　says　to　him。　'_Cabbages　and　potatoes　are　betterfor　me　and　you。　Don't　go　getting　mixed　up　in　the　business　of　your　betters；　oryou'll　land　in　trouble　too　big　for　you；'_I　says　to　him。　And　I　might　say　it　toothers；'　he　added　with　a　look　at　the　stranger　and　the　miller。　
But　the　Gaffer　did　not　convince　his　audience。　The　legend　of　Bilbo'swealth　was　now　too　firmly　fixed　in　the　minds　of　the　younger　generation　ofhobbits。　　
'Ah；　but　he　has　likely　enough　been　adding　to　what　he　brought　at　first；'　
argued　the　miller；　voicing　mon　opinion。　'He's　often　away　from　home。　Andlook　at　the　outlandish　folk　that　visit　him：　dwarves　ing　at　night；　and　thatold　wandering　conjuror；　Gandalf；　and　all。　You　can　say　what　you　like；　Gaffer；　
but　Bag　End's　a　queer　place；　and　its　folk　are　queerer。'　
'And　you　can　say　_what　you_　like；　about　what　you　know　no　more　of　than　youdo　of　boating；　Mr。　Sandyman；'　retorted　the　Gaffer；　disliking　the　miller　evenmore　than　usual。　If　that's　being　queer；　then　we　could　do　with　a　bit　morequeerness　in　these　parts。　There's　some　not　far　away　that　wouldn't　offer　a　pintof　beer　to　a　friend；　if　they　lived　in　a　hole　with　golden　walls。　But　they　dothings　proper　at　Bag　End。　Our　Sam　says　that　_everyone's_　going　to　be　invitedto　the　party；　and　there's　going　to　be　presents；　mark　you；　presents　for　all　–　
this　very　month　as　is。'　　
That　very　month　was　September；　and　as　fine　as　you　could　ask。　A　day　or　twolater　a　rumour　（probably　started　by　the　knowledgeable　Sam）　was　spread　aboutthat　there　were　going　to　be　fireworks　–　fireworks；　what　is　more；　such　as　hadnot　been　seen　in　the　Shire　for　nigh　on　a　century；　not　indeed　since　the　OldTook　died。　　
Days　passed　and　The　Day　drew　nearer。　An　odd…looking　waggon　laden　withodd…looking　packages　rolled　into　Hobbiton　one　evening　and　toiled　up　the　Hillto　Bag　End。　The　startled　hobbits　peered　out　of　lamplit　doors　to　gape　at　it。　Itwas　driven　by　outlandish　folk；　singing　strange　songs：　dwarves　with　long　beardsand　deep　hoods。　A　few　of　them　remained　at　Bag　End。　At　the　end　of　the　secondweek　in　September　a　cart　came　in　through　Bywater　from　the　direction　of　theBrandywine　Bridge　in　broad　daylight。　An　old　man　was　driving　it　all　alone。　Hewore　a　tall　pointed　blue　hat；　a　long　grey　cloak；　and　a　silver　scarf。　He　had　along　white　beard　and　bushy　eyebrows　that　stuck　out　beyond　the　brim　of　his　hat。　
Small　hobbit…children　ran　after　the　cart　all　through　Hobbiton　and　right　up　thehill。　It　had　a　cargo　of　fireworks；　as　they　rightly　guessed。　At　Bilbo's　frontdoor　the　old　man　began　to　unload：　there　were　great　bundles　of　fireworks　of　allsorts　and　shapes；　each　labelled　with　a　large　red　G　and　the　elf…rune；　。　　
That　was　Gandalf's　mark；　of　course；　and　the　old　man　was　Gandalf　theWizard；　whose　fame　in　the　Shire　was　due　mainly　to　his　skill　with　fires；　
smokes；　and　lights。　His　real　business　was　far　more　difficult　and　dangerous；　　
　
but　the　Shire…folk　knew　nothing　about　it。　To　them　he　was　just　one　of　the'attractions'　at　the　Party。　Hence　the　excitement　of　the　hobbit…children。　'Gfor　Grand！'　they　shouted；　and　the　old　man　smiled。　They　knew　him　by　sight；　
though　he　only　appeared　in　Hobbiton　occasionally　and　never　stopped　long；　butneither　they　nor　any　but　the　oldest　of　their　elders　had　seen　one　of　hisfirework　displays　–　they　now　belonged　to　the　legendary　past。　
When　the　old　man；　helped　by　Bilbo　and　some　dwarves；　had　finishedunloading。　Bilbo　gave　a　few　pennies　away；　but　not　a　single　squib　or　crackerwas　forthing；　to　the　disappointment　of　the　onlookers。　
'Run　away　now！'　said　Gandalf。　'You　will　get　plenty　when　the　time　es。'　
Then　he　disappeared　inside　with　Bilbo；　and　the　door　was　shut。　The　younghobbits　stared　at　the　door　in　vain　for　a　while；　and　then　made　off；　feelingthat　the　day　of　the　party　would　never　e。　　
Inside　Bag　End；　Bilbo　and　Gandalf　were　sitting　at　the　open　window　of　asmall　room　looking　out　west　on　to　the　garden。　The　late　afternoon　was　brightand　peaceful。　The　flowers　glowed　red　and　golden：　snap…dragons　and　sun…flowers；　
and　nasturtiums　trailing　all　over　the　turf　walls　and　peeping　in　at　the　roundwindows。　　
'How　bright　your　garden　looks！'　said　Gandalf。　
'Yes；'　said　Bilbo。　I　am　very　fond　indeed　of　it；　and　of　all　the　dear　oldShire；　but　I　think　I　need　a　holiday。'　
'You　mean　to　go　on　with　your　plan　then？'　
'I　do。　I　made　up　my　mind　months　ago；　and　I　haven't　changed　it。'　
'Very　well。　It　is　no　good　saying　any　more。　Stick　to　your　plan　–　yourwhole　plan；　mind　–　and　I　hope　it　will　turn　out　for　the　best；　for　you；　and　forall　of　us。'　　
'I　hope　so。　Anyway　I　mean　to　enjoy　myself　on　Thursday；　and　have　my　little　
joke。'　
'Who　will　laugh；　I　wonder？'　said　Gandalf；　shaking　his　head。　
'We　shall　see；'　said　Bilbo。　　
The　next　day　more　carts　rolled　up　the　Hill；　and　still　more　carts。　Theremight　have　been　some　grumbling　about　'dealing　locally'；　but　that　very　weekorders　began　to　pour　out　of　Bag　End　for　every　kind　of　provision；　modity；　orluxury　that　could　be　obtained　in　Hobbiton　or　Bywater　or　anywhere　in　theneighbourhood。　People　became　enthusiastic；　and　they　began　to　tick　off　the　dayson　the　calendar；　and　they　watched　eagerly　for　the　postman；　hoping　forinvitations。　　
Before　long　the　invitations　began　pouring　out；　and　the　Hobbiton　post…　
office　was　blocked；　and　the　Bywater　post…office　was　snowed　under；　andvoluntary　assistant　postmen　were　called　for。　There　was　a　constant　stream　ofthem　going　up　the　Hill；