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 that asong or some poetry was now imminent； and they were getting bored。 Whycouldn't he stop talking and let them drink his health？ But Bilbo did not singor recite。 He paused for a moment。
_Thirdly and finally；_ he said； _I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT_。 Hespoke this last word so loudly and suddenly that everyone sat up who stillcould。 _I regret to announce that – though； as I said； eleventy…one years isfar too short a time to spend among you – this is the END。 I am going。 I amleaving NOW。 GOOD…BYE！_
He stepped down and vanished。 There was a blinding flash of light； andthe guests all blinked。 When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to beseen。 One hundred and forty…four flabbergasted hobbits sat back speechless。
Old Odo Proudfoot removed his feet from the table and stamped。 Then there wasa dead silence； until suddenly； after several deep breaths； every Baggins；
Boffin； Took； Brandybuck； Grubb； Chubb； Burrows； Bolger； Bracegirdle；
Brockhouse； Goodbody； Hornblower； and Proudfoot began to talk at once。
It was generally agreed that the joke was in very bad taste； and morefood and drink were needed to cure the guests of shock and annoyance。 'He'smad。 I always said so；' was probably the most popular ment。 Even the Tooks（with a few exceptions） thought Bilbo's behaviour was absurd。 For the momentmost of them took it for granted that his disappearance was nothing more thana ridiculous prank。
But old Rory Brandybuck was not so sure。 Neither age nor an enormousdinner had clouded his wits； and he said to his daughter…in…law； Esmeralda：
'There's something fishy in this； my dear！ I believe that mad Baggins is off
again。 Silly old fool。 But why worry？ He hasn't taken the vittles with him。'
He called loudly to Frodo to send the wine round again。
Frodo was the only one present who had said nothing。 For some time he hadsat silent beside Bilbo's empty chair； and ignored all remarks and questions。
He had enjoyed the joke； of course； even though he had been in the know。 Hehad difficulty in keeping from laughter at the indignant surprise of theguests。 But at the same time he felt deeply troubled： he realized suddenlythat he loved the old hobbit dearly。 Most of the guests went on eating anddrinking and discussing Bilbo Baggins' oddities； past and present； but theSackville…Bagginses had already departed in wrath。 Frodo did not want to haveany more to do with the party。 He gave orders for more wine to be served； thenhe got up and drained his own glass silently to the health of Bilbo； andslipped out of the pavilion。
As for Bilbo Baggins； even while he was making his speech； he had beenfingering the golden ring in his pocket： his magic ring that he had keptsecret for so many years。 As he stepped down he slipped it on his finger； andhe was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again。
He walked briskly back to his hole； and stood for a moment listening witha smile to the din in the pavilion and to the sounds of merrymaking in otherparts of the field。 Then he went in。 He took off his party clothes； folded upand wrapped in tissue…paper his embroidered silk waistcoat； and put it away。
Then he put on quickly some old untidy garments； and fastened round his waista worn leather belt。 On it he hung a short sword in a battered black…leatherscabbard。 From a locked drawer； smelling of moth…balls； he took out an oldcloak and hood。 They had been locked up as if they were very precious； butthey were so patched and weatherstained that their original colour couldhardly be guessed： it might have been dark green。 They were rather too largefor him。 He then went into his study； and from a large strong…box took out abundle wrapped in old cloths； and a leather…bound manuscript； and also a largebulky envelope。 The book and bundle he stuffed into the top of a heavy bagthat was standing there； already nearly full。 Into the envelope he slipped hisgolden ring； and its fine chain； and then sealed it； and addressed it toFrodo。 At first he put it on the mantelpiece； but suddenly he removed it andstuck it in his pocket。 At that moment the door opened and Gandalf camequickly in。
'Hullo！' said Bilbo。 'I wondered if you would turn up。'
'I am glad to find you visible；' replied the wizard； sitting down in achair； 'I wanted to catch you and have a few final words。 I suppose you feelthat everything has gone off splendidly and according to plan？'
'Yes； I do；' said Bilbo。 〃Though that flash was surprising： it quitestartled me； let alone the others。 A little addition of your own； I suppose？'
It was。 You have wisely kept that ring secret all these years； and itseemed to me necessary to give your guests something else that would seem toexplain your sudden vanishment。'
'And would spoil my joke。 You are an interfering old busybody；' laughedBilbo； 'but I expect you know best； as usual。'
'I do – when I know anything。 But I don't feel too sure about this wholeaffair。 It has now e to the final point。 You have had your joke； andalarmed or offended most of your relations； and given the whole Shiresomething to talk about for nine days； or ninety…nine more likely。 Are yougoing any further？'
'Yes； I am。 I feel I need a holiday； a very long holiday； as I have toldyou before。 Probably a permanent holiday： I don't expect I shall return。 Infact； I don't mean to； and I have made all arrangements。
'I am old； Gandalf。 I don't look it； but I am beginning to feel it in myheart of hearts。 _Well…preserved_ indeed！' he snorted。 'Why； I feel all thin；
sort of _stretched；_ if you know what I mean： like butter that has beenscraped over too much bread。 That can't be right。 I need a change； orsomething。'
Gandalf looked curiously and closely at him。 'No； it does not seem
right；' he said thoughtfully。 'No； after all I believe your plan is probablythe best。'
'Well； I've made up my mind； anyway。 I want to see mountains again；
Gandalf； _mountains；_ and then find somewhere where I can _rest。_ In peace andquiet； without a lot of relatives prying around； and a string of confoundedvisitors hanging on the bell。 I might find somewhere where I can finish mybook。 I have thought of a nice ending for it： _and he lived happily ever afterto the end of his days。 '_
Gandalf laughed。 I hope he will。 But nobody will read the book； howeverit ends。'
'Oh； they may； in years to e。 Frodo has read some already； as far asit has gone。 You'll keep an eye on Frodo； won't you？'
'Yes； I will – two eyes； as often as I can spare them。'
'He would e with me； of course； if I asked him。 In fact he offered toonce； just before the party。 But he does not really want to； yet。 I want tosee the wild country again before I die； and the Mountains； but he is still inlove with the Shire； with woods and fields and little rivers。 He ought to befortable here。 I am leaving everything to him； of course； except a fewoddments。 I hope he will be happy； when he gets used to being on his own。 It'stime he was his own master now。'
'Everything？' said Gandalf。 'The ring as well？ You agreed to that； youremember。'
'Well； er； yes； I suppose so；' stammered Bilbo。
'Where is it？'
'In an envelope； if you must know；' said Bilbo impatiently。 'There on themantelpiece。 Well； no！ Here it is in my pocket！' He hesitated。 'Isn't that oddnow？' he said softly to himself。 'Yet after all； why not？ Why shouldn't itstay there？'
Gandalf looked again very hard at Bilbo； and there was a gleam in hiseyes。 'I think； Bilbo；' he said quietly； 'I should leave it behind。 Don't youwant to？'
'Well yes – and no。 Now it es to it； I don't like parting with it atall； I may say。 And I don't really see why I should。 Why do you want me to？'
he asked； and a curious change came over his voice。 It was sharp withsuspicion and annoyance。 'You are always badgering me about my ring； but youhave never bothered me about the other things that I got on my journey。'
'No； but I had to badger you；' said Gandalf。 'I wanted the truth。 It wasimportant。 Magic rings are – well； magical； and they are rare and curious。 Iwas professionally interested in your ring； you may say； and I still am。 Ishould like to know where it is； if you go wandering again。 Also I think_you_have had it quite long enough。 You won't need it any more。 Bilbo； unlessI am quite mistaken。'
Bilbo flushed； and there was an angry light in his eyes。 His kindly facegrew hard。 'Why not？' he cried。 'And what business is it of yours； anyway； toknow what I do with my own things？ It is my own。 I found it。 It came to me。'
'Yes； yes；' said Gandalf。 'But there is no need to get angry。'
'If I am it is your fault；' said Bilbo。 'It is mine； I tell you。 My own。
My precious。 Yes； my precious。'
The wizard's face remained grave and attentive； and only a flicker in hisdeep eyes showed that he was startled and indeed alarmed。 'It has been calledthat before；' he said； 'but not by you。'
'But I say it now。 And why not？ Even if Gollum said the same once。 It'snot his now； but mine。 And I shall keep it； I say。'
Gandalf stood up。 He spoke sternly。 'You will be a fool if you do。
Bilbo；' he said。 'You make that clearer with every word you say。 It has gotfar too much hold on you。 Let it go！ And then you can go yourself； and befree。'
'I'll do as I choose and go as I please；' said Bilbo obstinately。
'Now； now； my dear hobbit！ ' said Gandalf。 'All your long life we havebeen friends； and you owe me something。 e！ Do as you promised： give it up！
'
'Well； if you want my ring yourself； say so！' cried Bilbo。 'But you won'tget it。 I won't give my precious away； I tell you。' His hand strayed to thehilt of his small sword。
Gandalf's eyes flashed。 It will be my turn to get angry soon；' he said。
If you say that again； I shall。 Then you will see Gandalf the Greyuncloaked。' He took a step towards the hobbit； and he seemed to grow tall andmenacing； his shadow filled the little room。
Bilbo backed away to the wall； breathing hard； his hand clutching at hispocket。 They stood for a while facing one another； and the air of the roomtingled。 Gandalf's eyes remained bent on the hobbit。 Slowly his hands relaxed；
and he began to tremble。
'I don't know what has e over you