"J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit (reprint)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

evening!" You will notice already that Mr. Baggins was not quite so prosy as
he liked to believe, also that he was very fond of flowers. "Dear me!" she
went on. "Not the Gandalf who was responsible for so many quiet lads and
lasses going off into the Blue for mad adventures. Anything from climbing
trees to visiting Elves - or sailing in ships, sailing to other shores!
Bless me, life used to be quite inter - I mean, you used to upset things
badly in these parts once upon a time. I beg your pardon, but I had no idea
you were still in business."
"Where else should I be?" said the wizard. "All the same I am pleased
to find you remember something about me. You seem to remember my fireworks
kindly, at any rate, land that is not without hope. Indeed for your old
grand-father Took's sake, and for the sake of poor Belladonna, I will give
you what you asked for."
"I beg your pardon, I haven't asked for anything!"
"Yes, you have! Twice now. My pardon. I give it you. In fact I will go
so far as to send you on this adventure. Very amusing for me, very good for
you and profitable too, very likely, if you ever get over it."
"Sorry! I don't want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Good
morning! But please come to tea - any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Come
tomorrow! Good-bye!"
With that the hobbit turned and scuttled inside his round green door,
and shut it as quickly as he dared, not to seen rude. Wizards after all are
wizards.
"What on earth did I ask him to tea for!" he said to him-self, as he
went to the pantry. He had only just had break fast, but he thought a cake
or two and a drink of something would do him good after his fright. Gandalf
in the meantime was still standing outside the door, and laughing long but
quietly. After a while he stepped up, and with the spike of his staff
scratched a queer sign on the hobbit's beautiful green front-door. Then he
strode away, just about the time when Bilbo was finishing his second cake
and beginning to think that he had escape adventures very well.
The next day he had almost forgotten about Gandalf He did not remember
things very well, unless he put them down on his Engagement Tablet: like
this: Gandalf 'Ґa Wednesday. Yesterday he had been too flustered to do
anything of the kind. Just before tea-time there came a tremendous ring on
the front-door bell, and then he remembered! He rushed and put on the
kettle, and put out another cup and saucer and an extra cake or two, and ran
to the door.
"I am so sorry to keep you waiting!" he was going to say, when he saw
that it was not Gandalf at all. It was a dwarf with a blue beard tucked into
a golden belt, and very bright eyes under his dark-green hood. As soon a the
door was opened, he 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 become
uncomfortable, he added: "I am just about to take tea; pray come 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?