the fellowship of the ring-第7章

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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；　carrying　hundreds　of　polite　variations　on　_Thank　you；　
I　shall　certainly　e。_　
A　notice　appeared　on　the　gate　at　Bag　End：　NO　ADMITTANCE　EXCEPT　ON　PARTYBUSINESS。　Even　those　who　had；　or　pretended　to　have　Party　Business　were　seldomallowed　inside。　Bilbo　was　busy：　writing　invitations；　ticking　off　answers；　
packing　up　presents；　and　making　some　private　preparations　of　his　own。　From　thetime　of　Gandalf's　arrival　he　remained　hidden　from　view。　　
One　morning　the　hobbits　woke　to　find　the　large　field；　south　of　Bilbo'sfront　door；　covered　with　ropes　and　poles　for　tents　and　pavilions。　A　specialentrance　was　cut　into　the　bank　leading　to　the　road；　and　wide　steps　and　a　largewhite　gate　were　built　there。　The　three　hobbit…families　of　Bagshot　Row；　
adjoining　the　field；　were　intensely　interested　and　generally　envied。　OldGaffer　Gamgee　stopped　even　pretending　to　work　in　his　garden。　
The　tents　began　to　go　up。　There　was　a　specially　large　pavilion；　so　bigthat　the　tree　that　grew　in　the　field　was　right　inside　it；　and　stood　proudlynear　one　end；　at　the　head　of　the　chief　table。　Lanterns　were　hung　on　all　itsbranches。　More　promising　still　（to　the　hobbits'　mind）：　an　enormous　open…airkitchen　was　erected　in　the　north　corner　of　the　field。　A　draught　of　cooks；　from　　
　
every　inn　and　eating…house　for　miles　around；　arrived　to　supplement　the　dwarvesand　other　odd　folk　that　were　quartered　at　Bag　End。　Excitement　rose　to　itsheight。　
Then　the　weather　clouded　over。　That　was　on　Wednesday　the　eve　of　theParty。　Anxiety　was　intense。　Then　Thursday；　September　the　22nd；　actuallydawned。　The　sun　got　up；　the　clouds　vanished；　flags　were　unfurled　and　the　fun　
began。　
Bilbo　Baggins　called　it　a　_party；_　but　it　was　really　a　variety　ofentertainments　rolled　into　one。　Practically　everybody　living　near　was　invited。　
A　very　few　were　overlooked　by　accident；　but　as　they　turned　up　all　the　same；　
that　did　not　matter。　Many　people　from　other　parts　of　the　Shire　were　alsoasked；　and　there　were　even　a　few　from　outside　the　borders。　Bilbo　met　theguests　（and　additions）　at　the　new　white　gate　in　person。　He　gave　away　presentsto　all　and　sundry　–　the　latter　were　those　who　went　out　again　by　a　back　way　andcame　in　again　by　the　gate。　Hobbits　give　presents　to　other　people　on　their　ownbirthdays。　Not　very　expensive　ones；　as　a　rule；　and　not　so　lavishly　as　on　thisoccasion；　but　it　was　not　a　bad　system。　Actually　in　Hobbiton　and　Bywater　everyday　in　the　year　it　was　somebody's　birthday；　so　that　every　hobbit　in　thoseparts　had　a　fair　chance　of　at　least　one　present　at　least　once　a　week。　But　theynever　got　tired　of　them。　
On　this　occasion　the　presents　were　unusually　good。　The　hobbit…childrenwere　so　excited　that　for　a　while　they　almost　forgot　about　eating。　There　weretoys　the　like　of　which　they　had　never　seen　before；　all　beautiful　and　someobviously　magical。　Many　of　them　had　indeed　been　ordered　a　year　before；　and　hade　all　the　way　from　the　Mountain　and　from　Dale；　and　were　of　real　dwarf…make。　
When　every　guest　had　been　weled　and　was　finally　inside　the　gate；　therewere　songs；　dances；　music；　games；　and；　of　course；　food　and　drink。　There　werethree　official　meals：　lunch；　tea；　and　dinner　（or　supper）。　But　lunch　and　teawere　marked　chiefly　by　the　fact　that　at　those　times　all　the　guests　weresitting　down　and　eating　together。　At　other　times　there　were　merely　lots　ofpeople　eating　and　drinking　–　continuously　from　elevenses　until　six…thirty；　
when　the　fireworks　started。　　
The　fireworks　were　by　Gandalf：　they　were　not　only　brought　by　him；　butdesigned　and　made　by　him；　and　the　special　effects；　set　pieces；　and　flights　ofrockets　were　let　off　by　him。　But　there　was　also　a　generous　distribution　ofsquibs；　crackers；　backarappers；　sparklers；　torches；　dwarf…candles；　elf…　
fountains；　goblin…barkers　and　thunder…claps。　They　were　all　superb。　The　art　ofGandalf　improved　with　age。　
There　were　rockets　like　a　flight　of　scintillating　birds　singing　withsweet　voices。　There　were　green　trees　with　trunks　of　dark　smoke：　their　leavesopened　like　a　whole　spring　unfolding　in　a　moment；　and　their　shining　branchesdropped　glowing　flowers　down　upon　the　astonished　hobbits；　disappearing　with　asweet　scent　just　before　they　touched　their　upturned　faces。　There　werefountains　of　butterflies　that　flew　glittering　into　the　trees；　there　werepillars　of　coloured　fires　that　rose　and　turned　into　eagles；　or　sailing　ships；　
or　a　phalanx　of　flying　swans；　there　was　a　red　thunderstorm　and　a　shower　ofyellow　rain；　there　was　a　forest　of　silver　spears　that　sprang　suddenly　into　theair　with　a　yell　like　an　embattled　army；　and　came　down　again　into　the　Waterwith　a　hiss　like　a　hundred　hot　snakes。　And　there　was　also　one　last　surprise；　
in　honour　of　Bilbo；　and　it　startled　the　hobbits　exceedingly；　as　Gandalfintended。　The　lights　went　out。　A　great　smoke　went　up。　It　shaped　itself　like　amountain　seen　in　the　distance；　and　began　to　glow　at　the　summit。　It　spoutedgreen　and　scarlet　flames。　Out　flew　a　red…golden　dragon　–　not　life…size；　butterribly　life…like：　fire　came　from　his　jaws；　his　eyes　glared　down；　there　was　aroar；　and　he　whizzed　three　times　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd。　They　all　ducked；　
and　many　fell　flat　on　their　faces。　The　dragon　passed　like　an　express　train；　
turned　a　somersault；　and　burst　over　Bywater　with　a　deafening　explosion。　
'That　is　the　signal　for　supper！'　said　Bilbo。　The　pain　and　alarm　vanishedat　once；　and　the　prostrate　hobbits　leaped　to　their　feet。　There　was　a　splendidsupper　for　everyone；　for　everyone；　that　is；　except　those　invited　to　the　　
　
special　family　dinner…party。　This　was　held　in　the　great　pavilion　with　thetree。　The　invitations　were　limited　to　twelve　dozen　（a　number　also　called　bythe　hobbits　one　Gross；　though　the　word　was　not　considered　proper　to　use　ofpeople）；　and　the　guests　were　selected　from　all　the　families　to　which　Bilbo　andFrodo　were　related；　with　the　addition　of　a　few　special　unrelated　friends　（suchas　Gandalf）。　Many　young　hobbits　were　included；　and　present　by　parentalpermission；　for　hobbits　were　easy…going　with　their　children　in　the　matter　ofsitting　up　late；　especially　when　there　was　a　chance　of　getting　them　a　freemeal。　Bringing　up　young　hobbits　took　a　lot　of　provender。　
There　were　many　Bagginses　and　Boffins；　and　also　many　Tooks　andBrandybucks；　there　were　various　Grubbs　（relations　of　Bilbo　Baggins'grandmother）；　and　various　Chubbs　（connexions　of　his　Took　grandfather）；　and　aselection　of　Burrowses；　Bolgers；　Bracegirdles；　Brockhouses；　Goodbodies；　
Hornblowers　and　Proudfoots。　Some　of　these　were　only　very　distantly　connectedwith　Bilbo；　and　some　of　them　had　hardly　ever　been　in　Hobbiton　before；　as　theylived　in　remote　corners　of　the　Shire。　The　Sackville…Bagginses　were　notforgotten。　Otho　and　his　wife　Lobelia　were　present。　They　disliked　Bilbo　anddetested　Frodo；　but　so　magnificent　was　the　invitation　card；　written　in　goldenink；　that　they　had　felt　it　was　impossible　to　refuse。　Besides；　their　cousin；　
Bilbo；　had　been　specializing　in　food　for　many　years　and　his　table　had　a　highreputation。　
All　the　one　hundred　and　forty…four　guests　expected　a　pleasant　feast；　
though　they　rather　dreaded　the　after…dinner　speech　of　their　host　（aninevitable　item）。　He　was　liable　to　drag　in　bits　of　what　he　called　poetry；　andsometimes；　after　a　glass　or　two；　would　allude　to　the　absurd　adventures　of　hismysterious　journey。　The　guests　were　not　disappointed：　they　had　a　_very_　
pleasant　feast；　in　fact　an　engrossing　entertainment：　rich；　abundant；　varied；　
and　prolonged。　The　purchase　of　provisions　fell　almost　to　nothing　throughoutthe　district　in　the　ensuing　weeks；　but　as　Bilbo's　catering　had　depleted　thestocks　of　most　stores；　cellars　and　warehouses　for　miles　around；　that　did　notmatter　much。　　
After　the　feast　（more　or　less）　came　the　Speech。　Most　of　the　pany　were；　
however；　now　in　a　tolerant　mood；　at　that　delightful　stage　which　they　called'filling　up　the　corners'。　They　were　sipping　their　favourite　drinks；　andnibbling　at　their　favourite　dainties；　and　their　fears　were　forgotten。　Theywere　prepared　to　listen　to　anything；　and　to　cheer　at　every　full　stop。　
_My　dear　People；_　began　Bilbo；　rising　in　his　place。　'Hear！　Hear！　Hear！'　
they　shouted；　and　kept　on　repeating　it　in　chorus；　seeming　reluctant　to　followtheir　own　advice。　Bilbo　left　his　place　and　went　and　stood　on　a　chair　under　theilluminated　tree。　The　light　of　the　lanterns　fell　on　his　beaming　face；　thegolden　buttons　shone　on　his　embroidered　silk　waistcoat。　They　could　all　see　himstanding；　waving　one　hand　in　the　air；　the　other　was　in　his　trouser…pocket。　
_My　dear　Bagginses　and　Boffins；_　he　began　again；　_and　my　dear　Tooks　andBrandybucks；　and　Grubbs；　and　Chubbs；　and　Burrowses；　and　Hornblowers；　andBolgers；　Bracegirdles；　Goodbodies；　Brockhouses　and　Proudfoots。_　'ProudFEET！'　
shouted　an　elderly　hobbit　from　the　back　of　the　pavilion。　His　name；　of　course；　
was　Proudfoot；　and　well　merited；　his　feet　were　large；　exceptionally　furry；　andboth　were　on　the　table。　　
_Proudfoots；_　repeated　Bilbo。　_Also　my　good　Sackville…Bagginses　that　Iwele　back　at　last　to　Bag　End。　Today　is　my　one　hundred　and　eleventhbirthday：　I　am　eleventy…one　today！_　'Hurray！　Hurray！　Many　Happy　Returns！'　theyshouted；　and　they　hammered　joyously　on　the　tables。　Bilbo　was　doing　splendidly。　
This　was　the　sort　of　stuff　they　liked：　short　and　obvious。　
_I　hope　you　are　all　enjoying　yourselves　as　much　as　I　am。_　Deafeningcheers。　Cries　of　_Yes_　（and　_No）。_　Noises　of　trumpets　and　horns；　pipes　andflutes；　and　other　musical　instruments。　There　were；　as　has　been　said；　manyyoung　hobbits　present。　Hundreds　of　musical　crackers　had　been　pulled。　Most　ofthem　bore　the　mark　DALE　on　them；　which　did　not　convey　much　to　most　of　thehobbits；　but　they　all　agreed　they　were　marvellous　crackers。　They　containedinstruments；　small；　but　of　perfect　make　and　enchanting　tones。　Indeed；　in　one　　
　
corner　some　of　the　young　Tooks　and　Brandybucks；　supposing　Uncle　Bilbo　to　havefinished　（since　he　had　plainly　said　all　that　was　necessary）；　now　got　up　animpromptu　orchestra；　and　began　a　merry　dance…tune。　Master　Everard　Took　andMiss　Melilot　Brandybuck　got　on　a　table　and　with　bells　in　their　hands　began　todance　the　Springle…ring：　a　pretty　dance；　but　rather　vigorous。　
But　Bilbo　had　not　finished。　Seizing　a　horn　from　a　youngster　near　by；　heblew　three　loud　hoots。　The　noise　subsided。　_I　shall　not　keep　you　long；_　hecried。　Cheers　from　all　the　assembly。　_I　have　called　you　all　together　for　aPurpose。_　Something　in　the　way　that　he　said　this　made　an　impression。　There　wasalmost　silence；　and　one　or　two　of　the　Tooks　pricked　up　their　ears。　
_Indeed；　for　Three　Purposes！　First　of　all；　to　tell　you　that　I　amimmensely　fond　of　you　all；　and　that　eleventy…one　years　is　too　short　a　time　tolive　among　such　excellent　and　admirable　hobbits。_　Tremendous　outburst　ofapproval。　
_I　don't　know　half　of　you　half　as　well　as　I　should　like；　and　I　like　lessthan　half　of　you　half　as　well　as　you　deserve。_　This　was　unexpected　and　ratherdifficult。　There　was　some　scattered　clapping；　but　most　of　them　were　trying　towork　it　out　and　see　if　it　came　to　a　pliment。　
_Secondly；　to　celebrate　my　birthday。_　Cheers　again。　_I　should　say：　OURbirthday。　For　it　is；　of　course；　also　the　birthday　of　my　heir　and　nephew；　
Frodo。　He　es　of　age　and　into　his　inheritance　today。_　Some　perfunctoryc