e¡¡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¡¡to¡¡glow¡¡at¡¡the¡¡summit¡£¡¡It¡¡spouted¡¡green¡¡and¡¡scarlet¡¡flames¡£¡¡Out¡¡flew¡¡a¡¡redgolden¡¡dragon¡¡¡£¡¡not¡¡lifesize£»¡¡but¡¡terribly¡¡lifelike£º¡¡fire¡¡came¡¡from¡¡his¡¡jaws£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡glared¡¡down£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡roar£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡whizzed¡¡three¡¡times¡¡over¡¡the¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crowd¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡ducked£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡fell¡¡flat¡¡on¡¡their¡¡faces¡£¡¡The¡¡dragon¡¡passed¡¡like¡¡an¡¡express¡¡train£»¡¡turned¡¡a¡¡somersault£»¡¡and¡¡burst¡¡over¡¡Bywater¡¡with¡¡a¡¡deafening¡¡explosion¡£
'That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡for¡¡supper£¡'¡¡said¡¡Bilbo¡£¡¡The¡¡pain¡¡and¡¡alarm¡¡vanished¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prostrate¡¡hobbits¡¡leaped¡¡to¡¡their¡¡feet¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡splendid¡¡supper¡¡for¡¡everyone£»¡¡for¡¡everyone£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡except¡¡those¡¡invited¡¡to¡¡the¡¡special¡¡family¡¡dinnerparty¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡held¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡pavilion¡¡with¡¡the¡¡tree¡£¡¡The¡¡invitations¡¡were¡¡limited¡¡to¡¡twelve¡¡dozen¡¡£¨a¡¡number¡¡also¡¡called¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hobbits¡¡one¡¡Gross£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡word¡¡was¡¡not¡¡considered¡¡proper¡¡to¡¡use¡¡of¡¡people£©£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡guests¡¡were¡¡selected¡¡from¡¡all¡¡the¡¡families¡¡to¡¡which¡¡Bilbo¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡¡were¡¡related£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡addition¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡special¡¡unrelated¡¡friends¡¡£¨such¡¡as¡¡Gandalf£©¡£¡¡Many¡¡young¡¡hobbits¡¡were¡¡included£»¡¡and¡¡present¡¡by¡¡parental¡¡permission£»¡¡for¡¡hobbits¡¡were¡¡easygoing¡¡with¡¡their¡¡children¡¡in¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡sitting¡¡up¡¡late£»¡¡especially¡¡when¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡them¡¡a¡¡free¡¡meal¡£¡¡Bringing¡¡up¡¡young¡¡hobbits¡¡took¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡provender¡£
There¡¡were¡¡many¡¡Bagginses¡¡and¡¡Boffins£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡many¡¡Tooks¡¡and¡¡Brandybucks£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡various¡¡Grubbs¡¡£¨relations¡¡of¡¡Bilbo¡¡Baggins'¡¡grandmother£©£»¡¡and¡¡various¡¡Chubbs¡¡£¨connexions¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Took¡¡grandfather£©£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡selection¡¡of¡¡Burrowses£»¡¡Bolgers£»¡¡Bracegirdles£»¡¡Brockhouses£»¡¡Goodbodies£»¡¡Hornblowers¡¡and¡¡Proudfoots¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡were¡¡only¡¡very¡¡distantly¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡Bilbo£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡in¡¡Hobbiton¡¡before£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡remote¡¡corners¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Shire¡£¡¡The¡¡SackvilleBagginses¡¡were¡¡not¡¡fotten¡£¡¡Otho¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡Lobelia¡¡were¡¡present¡£¡¡They¡¡disliked¡¡Bilbo¡¡and¡¡detested¡¡Frodo£»¡¡but¡¡so¡¡magnificent¡¡was¡¡the¡¡invitation¡¡card£»¡¡written¡¡in¡¡golden¡¡ink£»¡¡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¡¡high¡¡reputation¡£
All¡¡the¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fortyfour¡¡guests¡¡expected¡¡a¡¡pleasant¡¡feast£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡rather¡¡dreaded¡¡the¡¡afterdinner¡¡speech¡¡of¡¡their¡¡host¡¡£¨an¡¡inevitable¡¡item£©¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡liable¡¡to¡¡drag¡¡in¡¡bits¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡called¡¡poetry£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡glass¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡would¡¡allude¡¡to¡¡the¡¡absurd¡¡adventures¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mysterious¡¡journey¡£¡¡The¡¡guests¡¡were¡¡not¡¡disappointed£º¡¡they¡¡had¡¡a¡¡very¡¡pleasant¡¡feast£»¡¡in¡¡fact¡¡an¡¡engrossing¡¡entertainment£º¡¡rich£»¡¡abundant£»¡¡varied£»¡¡and¡¡prolonged¡£¡¡The¡¡purchase¡¡of¡¡provisions¡¡fell¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡nothing¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡district¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ensuing¡¡weeks£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡Bilbo's¡¡catering¡¡had¡¡depleted¡¡the¡¡stocks¡¡of¡¡most¡¡stores£»¡¡cellars¡¡and¡¡warehouses¡¡for¡¡miles¡¡around£»¡¡that¡¡did¡¡not¡¡matter¡¡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£»¡¡and¡¡nibbling¡¡at¡¡their¡¡favourite¡¡dainties£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡fears¡¡were¡¡fotten¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡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¡¡follow¡¡their¡¡own¡¡advice¡£¡¡Bilbo¡¡left¡¡his¡¡place¡¡and¡¡went¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡under¡¡the¡¡illuminated¡¡tree¡£¡¡The¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lanterns¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡his¡¡beaming¡¡face£»¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡buttons¡¡shone¡¡on¡¡his¡¡embroidered¡¡silk¡¡waistcoat¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡all¡¡see¡¡him¡¡standing£»¡¡waving¡¡one¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡trouserpocket¡£
My¡¡dear¡¡Bagginses¡¡and¡¡Boffins£»¡¡he¡¡began¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡Tooks¡¡and¡¡Brandybucks£»¡¡and¡¡Grubbs£»¡¡and¡¡Chubbs£»¡¡and¡¡Burrowses£»¡¡and¡¡Hornblowers£»¡¡and¡¡Bolgers£»¡¡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£»¡¡and¡¡both¡¡were¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡£
Proudfoots£»¡¡repeated¡¡Bilbo¡£¡¡Also¡¡my¡¡good¡¡SackvilleBagginses¡¡that