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ind that was still his own； and lightcame through it； as through a chink in the dark： light out of the past。 It wasactually pleasant； I think； to hear a kindly voice again； bringing up memoriesof wind； and trees； and sun on the grass； and such forgotten things。
'But that； of course； would only make the evil part of him angrier in theend – unless it could be conquered。 Unless it could be cured。' Gandalf sighed。
'Alas！ there is little hope of that for him。 Yet not no hope。 No； not thoughhe possessed the Ring so long； almost as far back as he can remember。 For itwas long since he had worn it much： in the black darkness it was seldomneeded。 Certainly he had never 〃faded〃。 He is thin and tough still。 But thething was eating up his mind； of course； and the torment had bee almostunbearable。
'All the 〃great secrets〃 under the mountains had turned out to be justempty night： there was nothing more to find out； nothing worth doing； onlynasty furtive eating and resentful remembering。 He was altogether wretched。 Hehated the dark； and he hated light more： he hated everything； and the Ringmost of all。'
'What do you mean？' said Frodo。 'Surely the Ring was his precious and theonly thing he cared for？ But if he hated it； why didn't he get rid of it； orgo away and leave it？'
'You ought to begin to understand； Frodo； after all you have heard；' saidGandalf。 'He hated it and loved it； as he hated and loved himself。 He couldnot get rid of it。 He had no will left in the matter。
'A Ring of Power looks after itself； Frodo。 _It_ may slip offtreacherously； but its keeper never abandons it。 At most he plays with theidea of handing it on to someone else's care – and that only at an earlystage； when it first begins to grip。 But as far as I know Bilbo alone inhistory has ever gone beyond playing； and really done it。 He needed all myhelp； too。 And even so he would never have just forsaken it； or cast it aside。
It was not Gollum； Frodo； but the Ring itself that decided things。 The Ringleft _him。'_
'What； just in time to meet Bilbo？' said Frodo。 'Wouldn't an Orc havesuited it better？'
'It is no laughing matter；' said Gandalf。 'Not for you。 It was thestrangest event in the whole history of the Ring so far： Bilbo's arrival just
at that time； and putting his hand on it； blindly； in the dark。
'There was more than one power at work； Frodo。 The Ring was trying to getback to its master。 It had slipped from Isildur's hand and betrayed him； thenwhen a chance came it caught poor Deal； and he was murdered； and after thatGollum； and it had devoured him。 It could make no further use of him： he wastoo small and mean； and as long as it stayed with him he would never leave hisdeep pool again。 So now； when its master was awake once more and sending outhis dark thought from Mirkwood； it abandoned Gollum。 Only to be picked up bythe most unlikely person imaginable： Bilbo from the Shire！
'Behind that there was something else at work； beyond any design of theRing…maker。 I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was _meant_tofind the Ring； and _not_ by its maker。 In which case you also were _meant_tohave it。 And that maybe an encouraging thought。'
It is not；' said Frodo。 〃Though I am not sure that I understand you。 Buthow have you learned all this about the Ring； and about Gollum？ Do you reallyknow it all； or are you just guessing still？'
Gandalf looked at Frodo； and his eyes glinted。 I knew much and I havelearned much；' he answered。 'But I am not going to give an account of all mydoings to _you。_ The history of Elendil and Isildur and the One Ring is knownto all the Wise。 Your ring is shown to be that One Ring by the fire…writingalone； apart from any other evidence。' 'And when did you discover that？' askedFrodo； interrupting。 'Just now in this room； of course；' answered the wizardsharply。 'But I expected to find it。 I have e back from dark journeys andlong search to make that final test。 It is the last proof； and all is now onlytoo clear。 Making out Gollum's part； and fitting it into the gap in thehistory； required some thought。 I may have started with guesses about Gollum；
but I am not guessing now。 I know。 I have seen him。'
'You have seen Gollum？' exclaimed Frodo in amazement。
'Yes。 The obvious thing to do； of course； if one could。 I tried long ago；
but I have managed it at last。'
'Then what happened after Bilbo escaped from him？ Do you know that？'
'Not so clearly。 What I have told you is what Gollum was willing to tell
– though not； of course； in the way I have reported it。 Gollum is a liar； andyou have to sift his words。 For instance； he called the Ring his 〃birthdaypresent〃； and he stuck to that。 He said it came from his grandmother； who hadlots of beautiful things of that kind。 A ridiculous story。 I have no doubtthat Sméagol's grandmother was a matriarch； a great person in her way； but totalk of her possessing many Elven…rings was absurd； and as for giving themaway； it was a lie。 But a lie with a grain of truth。
'The murder of Deal haunted Gollum； and he had made up a defence；
repeating it to his 〃precious〃 over and over again； as he gnawed bones in thedark； until he almost believed it。 It _was_ his birthday。 Deal ought to havegiven the ring to him。 It had previously turned up just so as to be a present。
It _was_ his birthday present； and so on； and on。
I endured him as long as I could； but the truth was desperatelyimportant； and in the end I had to be harsh。 I put the fear of fire on him；
and wrung the true story out of him； bit by bit； together with much snivellingand snarling。 He thought he was misunderstood and ill…used。 But when he had atlast told me his history； as far as the end of the Riddle…game and Bilbo'sescape； he would not say any more； except in dark hints。 Some other fear wason him greater than mine。 He muttered that he was going to gel his own back。
People would see if he would stand being kicked； and driven into a hole andthen _robbed。_ Gollum had good friends now； good friends and very strong。 Theywould help him。 Baggins would pay for it。 That was his chief thought。 He hatedBilbo and cursed his name。 What is more； he knew where he came from。'
'But how did he find that out？' asked Fro