°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
sliking¡¡the¡¡miller¡¡even¡¡more¡¡than¡¡usual¡£¡¡If¡¡that's¡¡being¡¡queer£»¡¡then¡¡we¡¡could¡¡do¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡more¡¡queerness¡¡in¡¡these¡¡parts¡£¡¡There's¡¡some¡¡not¡¡far¡¡away¡¡that¡¡wouldn't¡¡offer¡¡a¡¡pint¡¡of¡¡beer¡¡to¡¡a¡¡friend£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hole¡¡with¡¡golden¡¡walls¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡do¡¡things¡¡proper¡¡at¡¡Bag¡¡End¡£¡¡Our¡¡Sam¡¡says¡¡that¡¡everyone's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡invited¡¡to¡¡the¡¡party£»¡¡and¡¡there's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡presents£»¡¡mark¡¡you£»¡¡presents¡¡for¡¡all¡ªthis¡¡very¡¡month¡¡as¡¡is¡£'
That¡¡very¡¡month¡¡was¡¡September£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡fine¡¡as¡¡you¡¡could¡¡ask¡£¡¡A¡¡day¡¡or¡¡two¡¡later¡¡a¡¡rumour¡¡£¨probably¡¡started¡¡by¡¡the¡¡knowledgeable¡¡Sam£©¡¡was¡¡spread¡¡about¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡fireworks¡¡¡£¡¡fireworks£»¡¡what¡¡is¡¡more£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Shire¡¡for¡¡nigh¡¡on¡¡a¡¡century£»¡¡not¡¡indeed¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Took¡¡died¡£
Days¡¡passed¡¡and¡¡The¡¡Day¡¡drew¡¡nearer¡£¡¡An¡¡oddlooking¡¡waggon¡¡laden¡¡with¡¡oddlooking¡¡packages¡¡rolled¡¡into¡¡Hobbiton¡¡one¡¡evening¡¡and¡¡toiled¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Hill¡¡to¡¡Bag¡¡End¡£¡¡The¡¡startled¡¡hobbits¡¡peered¡¡out¡¡of¡¡lamplit¡¡doors¡¡to¡¡gape¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡outlandish¡¡folk£»¡¡singing¡¡strange¡¡songs£º¡¡dwarves¡¡with¡¡long¡¡beards¡¡and¡¡deep¡¡hoods¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡of¡¡them¡¡remained¡¡at¡¡Bag¡¡End¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡second¡¡week¡¡in¡¡September¡¡a¡¡cart¡¡came¡¡in¡¡through¡¡Bywater¡¡from¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Brandywine¡¡Bridge¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡daylight¡£¡¡An¡¡old¡¡man¡¡was¡¡driving¡¡it¡¡all¡¡alone¡£¡¡He¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡pointed¡¡blue¡¡hat£»¡¡a¡¡long¡¡grey¡¡cloak£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡silver¡¡scarf¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡long¡¡white¡¡beard¡¡and¡¡bushy¡¡eyebrows¡¡that¡¡stuck¡¡out¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡brim¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hat¡£¡¡Small¡¡hobbitchildren¡¡ran¡¡after¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡all¡¡through¡¡Hobbiton¡¡and¡¡right¡¡up¡¡the¡¡hill¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡a¡¡cargo¡¡of¡¡fireworks£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡rightly¡¡guessed¡£¡¡At¡¡Bilbo's¡¡front¡¡door¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡began¡¡to¡¡unload£º¡¡there¡¡were¡¡great¡¡bundles¡¡of¡¡fireworks¡¡of¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡and¡¡shapes£»¡¡each¡¡labelled¡¡with¡¡a¡¡large¡¡red¡¡G¡¡and¡¡the¡¡elfrune£»¡¡¡£
That¡¡was¡¡Gandalf's¡¡mark£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡was¡¡Gandalf¡¡the¡¡Wizard£»¡¡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¡¡Shirefolk¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡To¡¡them¡¡he¡¡was¡¡just¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡'attractions'¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Party¡£¡¡Hence¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hobbitchildren¡£¡¡'G¡¡for¡¡Grand£¡'¡¡they¡¡shouted£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡smiled¡£¡¡They¡¡knew¡¡him¡¡by¡¡sight£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡only¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡Hobbiton¡¡occasionally¡¡and¡¡never¡¡stopped¡¡long£»¡¡but¡¡neither¡¡they¡¡nor¡¡any¡¡but¡¡the¡¡oldest¡¡of¡¡their¡¡elders¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡firework¡¡displays¡¡¡£¡¡they¡¡now¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡the¡¡legendary¡¡past¡£
When¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡helped¡¡by¡¡Bilbo¡¡and¡¡some¡¡dwarves£»¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡unloading£»¡¡Bilbo¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡few¡¡pennies¡¡away£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡a¡¡single¡¡squib¡¡or¡¡cracker¡¡was¡¡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¡¡young¡¡hobbits¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡made¡¡off£»¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡the¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡would¡¡never¡¡e¡£
Inside¡¡Bag¡¡End£»¡¡Bilbo¡¡and¡¡Gandalf¡¡were¡¡sitting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡open¡¡window¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡room¡¡looking¡¡out¡¡west¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡The¡¡late¡¡afternoon¡¡was¡¡bright¡¡and¡¡peaceful¡£¡¡The¡¡flowers¡¡glowed¡¡red¡¡and¡¡golden£º¡¡snapdragons¡¡and¡¡sunflowers£»¡¡and¡¡nasturtiums¡¡trailing¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡turf¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡peeping¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡round¡¡windows¡£
'How¡¡bright¡¡your¡¡garden¡¡looks£¡'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£
'Yes£»'¡¡said¡¡Bilbo¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡fond¡¡indeed¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡Shire£»¡¡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£»¡¡your¡¡whole¡¡plan£»¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡it¡¡will¡¡turn¡¡out¡¡for¡¡the¡¡best£»¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡all¡¡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¡£¡¡There¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡some¡¡grumbling¡¡about¡¡'dealing¡¡locally'£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡very¡¡week¡¡orders¡¡began¡¡to¡¡pour¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Bag¡¡End¡¡for¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡provision£»¡¡modity£»¡¡or¡¡luxury¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡obtained¡¡in¡¡Hobbiton¡¡or¡¡Bywater¡¡or¡¡anywhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¡People¡¡became¡¡enthusiastic£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡tick¡¡off¡¡the¡¡days¡¡on¡¡the¡¡calendar£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡watched¡¡eagerly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡postman£»¡¡hoping¡¡for¡¡invitations¡£
Before¡¡long¡¡the¡¡invitations¡¡began¡¡pouring¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Hobbiton¡¡post¡¡office¡¡was¡¡blocked£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Bywater¡¡postoffice¡¡was¡¡snowed¡¡under£»¡¡and¡¡voluntary¡¡assistant¡¡postmen¡¡were¡¡called¡¡for¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡constant¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡them¡¡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£º¡¡NO¡¡ADMITTANCE¡¡EXCEPT¡¡ON¡¡PARTY¡¡BUSINESS¡£¡¡Even¡¡those¡¡who¡¡had£»¡¡or¡¡pretended¡¡to¡¡have¡¡Party¡¡Business¡¡were¡¡seldom¡¡allowed¡¡inside¡£¡¡Bilbo¡¡was¡¡busy£º¡¡writing¡¡invitations£»¡¡ticking¡¡off¡¡answers£»¡¡packing¡¡up¡¡presents£»¡¡and¡¡making¡¡some¡¡private¡¡preparations¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡Gandalf's¡¡arrival¡¡he¡¡remained¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡view¡£
One¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡hobbits¡¡woke¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡large¡¡field£»¡¡south¡¡of¡¡Bilbo's¡¡front¡¡door£»¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡ropes¡¡and¡¡poles¡¡for¡¡tents¡¡and¡¡pavilions¡£¡¡A¡¡special¡¡entrance¡¡was¡¡cut¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡and¡¡wide¡¡steps¡¡and¡¡a¡¡large¡¡white¡¡gate¡¡were¡¡built¡¡there¡£¡¡The¡¡three¡¡hobbitfamilies¡¡of¡¡Bagshot¡¡Row£»¡¡adjoining¡¡the¡¡field£»¡¡were¡¡intensely¡¡interested¡¡and¡¡generally¡¡envied¡£¡¡Old¡¡Gaffer¡¡Gamgee¡¡stopped¡¡even¡¡pretending¡¡to¡¡work¡¡in¡¡his¡¡garden¡£
The¡¡tents¡¡began¡¡to¡¡go¡¡up¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡specially¡¡large¡¡pavilion£»¡¡so¡¡big¡¡that¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡that¡¡grew¡¡in¡¡the¡¡field¡¡was¡¡right¡¡inside¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡proudly¡¡near¡¡one¡¡end£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡table¡£¡¡Lanterns¡¡were¡¡hung¡¡on¡¡all¡¡its¡¡branches¡£¡¡More¡¡promising¡¡still¡¡£¨to¡¡the¡¡hobbits'¡¡mind£©£º¡¡an¡¡enormous¡¡openair¡¡kitchen¡¡was¡¡erected¡¡in¡¡the¡¡north¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡field¡£¡¡A¡¡draught¡¡of¡¡cooks£»¡¡from¡¡every¡¡inn¡¡and¡¡eatinghouse¡¡for¡¡miles¡¡around£»¡¡arrived¡¡to¡¡supplement¡¡the¡¡dwarves¡¡and¡¡other¡¡odd¡¡folk¡¡that¡¡were¡¡quartered¡¡at¡¡Bag¡¡End¡£¡¡Excitement¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡its¡¡height¡£
Then¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡clouded¡¡over¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡on¡¡Wednesday¡¡the¡¡eve¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Party¡£¡¡Anxiety¡¡was¡¡intense¡£¡¡Then¡¡Thursday£»¡¡September¡¡the¡¡22nd£»¡¡actually¡¡dawned¡£¡¡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¡¡of¡¡entertainments¡¡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¡¡also¡¡asked£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡even¡¡a¡¡few¡¡from¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡borders¡£¡¡Bilbo¡¡met¡¡the¡¡guests¡¡£¨and¡¡additions£©¡¡at¡¡the¡¡new¡¡white¡¡gate¡¡in¡¡person¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡away¡¡presents¡¡to¡¡all¡¡and¡¡sundry¡¡¡£¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡were¡¡those¡¡who¡¡went¡¡out¡¡again¡¡by¡¡a¡¡back¡¡way¡¡and¡¡came¡¡in¡¡again¡¡by¡¡the¡¡gate¡£¡¡Hobbits¡¡give¡¡presents¡¡to¡¡other¡¡people¡¡on¡¡their¡¡own¡¡birthdays¡£¡¡Not¡¡very¡¡expensive¡¡ones£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡rule£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡so¡¡lavishly¡¡as¡¡on¡¡this¡¡occasion£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡system¡£¡¡Actually¡¡in¡¡Hobbiton¡¡and¡¡Bywater¡¡every¡¡day¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡it¡¡was¡¡somebody's¡¡birthday£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡every¡¡hobbit¡¡in¡¡those¡¡parts¡¡had¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡at¡¡least¡¡one¡¡present¡¡at¡¡least¡¡once¡¡a¡¡week¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡never¡¡got¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡them¡£
On¡¡this¡¡occasion¡¡the¡¡presents¡¡were¡¡unusually¡¡good¡£¡¡The¡¡hobbitchildren¡¡were¡¡so¡¡excited¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡¡they¡¡almost¡¡fot¡¡about¡¡eating¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡toys¡¡the¡¡like¡¡of¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡before£»¡¡all¡¡beautiful¡¡and¡¡some¡¡obviously¡¡magical¡£¡¡Many¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡indeed¡¡been¡¡ordered¡¡a¡¡year¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡e¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Mountain¡¡and¡¡from¡¡Dale£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡of¡¡real¡¡dwarfmake¡£
When¡¡every¡¡guest¡¡had¡¡been¡¡weled¡¡and¡¡was¡¡finally¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡songs£»¡¡dances£»¡¡music£»¡¡games£»¡¡and£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡food¡¡and¡¡drink¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡three¡¡official¡¡meals£º¡¡lunch£»¡¡tea£»¡¡and¡¡dinner¡¡£¨or¡¡supper£©¡£¡¡But¡¡lunch¡¡and¡¡tea¡¡were¡¡marked¡¡chiefly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡at¡¡those¡¡times¡¡all¡¡the¡¡guests¡¡were¡¡sitting¡¡down¡¡and¡¡eating¡¡together¡£¡¡At¡¡other¡¡times¡¡there¡¡were¡¡merely¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡people¡¡eating¡¡and¡¡drinking¡¡continuously¡¡from¡¡elevenses¡¡until¡¡sixthirty£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡fireworks¡¡started¡£
The¡¡fireworks¡¡were¡¡by¡¡Gandalf£º¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡only¡¡brought¡¡by¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡designed¡¡and¡¡made¡¡by¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡special¡¡effects£»¡¡set¡¡pieces£»¡¡and¡¡flights¡¡of¡¡rockets¡¡were¡¡let¡¡off¡¡by¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡generous¡¡distribution¡¡of¡¡squibs£»¡¡crackers£»¡¡backarappers£»¡¡sparklers£»¡¡torches£»¡¡dwarfcandles£»¡¡elf¡¡fountains£»¡¡goblinbarkers¡¡and¡¡thunderclaps¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡all¡¡superb¡£¡¡The¡¡art¡¡of¡¡Gandalf¡¡improved¡¡with¡¡age¡£
There¡¡were¡¡rockets¡¡like¡¡a¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡scintillating¡¡birds¡¡singing¡¡with¡¡sweet¡¡voices¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡green¡¡trees¡¡with¡¡trunks¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡smoke£º¡¡their¡¡leaves¡¡opened¡¡like¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡spring¡¡unfolding¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡shining¡¡branches¡¡dropped¡¡glowing¡¡flowers¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡astonished¡¡hobbits£»¡¡disappearing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡scent¡¡just¡¡before¡¡they¡¡touched¡¡their¡¡upturned¡¡faces¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡fountains¡¡of¡¡butterflies¡¡that¡¡flew¡¡glittering¡¡into¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡pillars¡¡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¡¡of¡¡yellow¡¡rain£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡forest¡¡of¡¡silver¡¡spears¡¡that¡¡sprang¡¡suddenly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡a¡¡yell¡¡like¡¡an¡¡embattled¡¡army£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡down¡¡again¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Water¡¡with¡¡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¡¡Gandalf¡¡intended¡£¡¡The¡¡lights¡¡went¡¡out¡£¡¡A¡¡great¡¡smoke¡¡went¡¡up¡£¡¡It¡¡shaped¡¡itself¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mountain¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡t