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！
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 perfunctoryclapping by the elders； and some loud shouts of 'Frodo！ Frodo！ Jolly oldFrodo；' from the juniors。 The Sackville…Bagginses scowled； and wondered whatwas meant by 'ing into his inheritance'。 _Together we score one hundred andforty…four。 Your numbers were chosen to fit this remarkable total： One Gross；
if I may use the expression。_ No cheers。 This was ridiculous。 Many of hisguests； and especially the Sackville…Bagginses； were insulted； feeling surethey had only been asked to fill up the required number； like goods in apackage。 'One Gross； indeed！ Vulgar expression。'
_It is also； if I may be allowed to refer to ancient history； theanniversary of my arrival by barrel at Esgaroth on the Long Lake； though thefact that it was_ my _birthday slipped my memory on that occasion。 I was onlyfifty…one then； and birthdays did not seem so important。 The banquet was verysplendid； however； though I had a bad cold at the time； I remember； and couldonly say 'thag you very buch'。 I now repeat it more correctly： Thank you verymuch for ing to my little party。_ Obstinate silence。 They all feared