The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第4章

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orry？　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　had　sat　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。　He　had　difficulty　in　keeping　from　laughter　at　the　indignant　surprise　of　the　guests。　But　at　the　same　time　he　felt　deeply　troubled：　he　realized　suddenly　that　he　loved　the　old　hobbit　dearly。　Most　of　the　guests　went　on　eating　and　drinking　and　discussing　Bilbo　Baggins'　oddities；　past　and　present；　but　the　SackvilleBagginses　had　already　departed　in　wrath。　Frodo　did　not　want　to　have　any　more　to　do　with　the　party。　He　gave　orders　for　more　wine　to　be　served；　then　he　got　up　and　drained　his　own　glass　silently　to　the　health　of　Bilbo；　and　slipped　out　of　the　pavilion。

As　for　Bilbo　Baggins；　even　while　he　was　making　his　speech；　he　had　been　fingering　the　golden　ring　in　his　pocket：　his　magic　ring　that　he　had　kept　secret　for　so　many　years。　As　he　stepped　down　he　slipped　it　on　his　finger；　and　he　was　never　seen　by　any　hobbit　in　Hobbiton　again。

He　walked　briskly　back　to　his　hole；　and　stood　for　a　moment　listening　with　a　smile　to　the　din　in　the　pavilion　and　to　the　sounds　of　merrymaking　in　other　parts　of　the　field。　Then　he　went　in。　He　took　off　his　party　clothes；　folded　up　and　wrapped　in　tissuepaper　his　embroidered　silk　waistcoat；　and　put　it　ae　old　untidy　garments；　and　fastened　round　his　waist　a　worn　leather　belt。　On　it　he　hung　a　short　sword　in　a　battered　blackleather　scabbard。　From　a　locked　drawer；　smelling　of　mothballs；　he　took　out　an　old　cloak　and　hood。　They　had　been　locked　up　as　if　they　were　very　precious；　but　they　were　so　patched　and　weatherstained　that　their　original　colour　could　hardly　be　guessed：　it　might　have　been　dark　green。　They　were　rather　too　large　for　him。　He　then　went　into　his　study；　and　from　a　large　strongbox　took　out　a　bundle　wrapped　in　old　cloths；　and　a　leatherbound　manuscript；　and　also　a　large　bulky　envelope。　The　book　and　bundle　he　stuffed　into　the　top　of　a　heavy　bag　that　was　standing　there；　already　nearly　full。　Into　the　envelope　he　slipped　his　golden　ring；　and　its　fine　chain；　and　then　sealed　it；　and　addressed　it　to　Frodo。　At　first　he　put　it　on　the　mantelpiece；　but　suddenly　he　removed　it　and　stuck　it　in　his　pocket。　At　that　moment　the　door　opened　and　Gandalf　came　quickly　in。

'Hullo！'　said　Bilbo。　'I　wondered　if　you　would　turn　up。'

'I　am　glad　to　find　you　visible；'　replied　the　wizard；　sitting　down　in　a　chair；　'I　wanted　to　catch　you　and　have　a　few　final　words。　I　suppose　you　feel　that　everything　has　gone　off　splendidly　and　according　to　plan？'

'Yes；　I　do；'　said　Bilbo。　〃Though　that　flash　e；　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　it　seemed　to　me　necessary　to　give　your　guests　something　else　that　would　seem　to　explain　your　sudden　vanishment。'

'And　would　spoil　my　joke。　You　are　an　interfering　old　busybody；'　laughed　Bilbo；　'but　I　expect　you　know　best；　as　usual。'

'I　do　。　when　I　know　anything。　But　I　don't　feel　too　sure　about　this　whole　affair。　It　has　now　e　to　the　final　point。　You　have　had　your　joke；　and　alarmed　or　offended　most　of　your　relations；　and　given　the　whole　Shire　something　to　talk　about　for　nine　days；　or　niynine　more　likely。　Are　you　going　any　further？'

'Yes；　I　am。　I　feel　I　need　a　holiday；　a　very　long　holiday；　as　I　have　told　you　before。　Probably　a　permanent　holiday：　I　don't　expect　I　shall　return。　In　fact；　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　my　heart　of　hearts。　Wellpreserved　indeed！'　he　snorted。　'Why；　I　feel　all　thin；　sort　of　stretched；　if　you　know　what　I　mean：　like　butter　that　has　been　scraped　over　too　much　bread。　That　can't　be　right。　I　need　a　change；　or　something。'

Gandalf　looked　curiously　and　closely　at　him。　'No；　it　does　not　seem　right；'　he　said　thoughtfully。　'No；　after　all　I　believe　your　plan　is　probably　the　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　and　quiet；　without　a　lot　of　relatives　prying　around；　and　a　string　of　confounded　visitors　hanging　on　the　bell。　I　might　find　somewhere　where　I　can　finish　my　book。　I　have　thought　of　a　nice　ending　for　it：　and　he　lived　happily　ever　after　to　the　end　of　his　days。'

Gandalf　laughed。　I　hope　he　will。　But　nobody　will　read　the　book；　however　it　ends。'

'Oh；　they　may；　in　years　to　e。　Frodo　has　read　some　already；　as　far　as　it　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　to　once；　just　before　the　party。　But　he　does　not　really　want　to；　yet。　I　want　to　see　the　wild　country　again　before　I　die；　and　the　Mountains；　but　he　is　still　in　love　with　the　Shire；　with　woods　and　fields　and　little　rivers。　He　ought　to　be　fortable　here。　I　am　leaving　everything　to　him；　of　course；　except　a　few　oddments。　I　hope　he　will　be　happy；　when　he　gets　used　to　being　on　his　own。　It's　time　he　was　his　own　master　now。'

'Everything？'　said　Gandalf。　'The　ring　as　well？　You　agreed　to　that；　you　remember。'

'Well；　er；　yes；　I　suppose　so；'　stammered　Bilbo。

'Where　is　it？'

'In　an　envelope；　if　you　must　know；'　said　Bilbo　impatiently。　'There　on　the　mantelpiece。　Well；　no！　Here　it　is　in　my　pocket！'　He　hesitated。　'Isn't　that　odd　now？'　he　said　softly　to　himself。　'Yet　after　all；　why　not？　Why　shouldn't　it　stay　there？'

Gandalf　looked　again　very　hard　at　Bilbo；　and　there　was　a　gleam　in　his　eyes。　'I　think；　Bilbo；'　he　said　quietly；　'I　should　leave　it　behind。　Don't　you　want　to？'

'Well　yes　。　and　no。　Now　it　es　to　it；　I　don't　like　parting　with　it　at　all；　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　with　suspicion　and　annoyance。　'You　are　always　badgering　me　about　my　ring；　but　you　have　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　was　important。　Magic　rings　are　。　well；　magical；　and　they　are　rare　and　curious。　I　was　professionally　interested　in　your　ring；　you　may　say；　and　I　still　am。　I　should　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；　unless　I　am　quite　mistaken。'

Bilbo　flushed；　and　there　was　an　angry　light　in　his　eyes。　His　kindly　face　grew　hard。　'Why　not？'　he　cried。　'And　what　business　is　it　of　yours；　anyway；　to　know　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　his　deep　eyes　showed　that　he　was　startled　and　indeed　alarmed。　'It　has　been　called　that　before；'　he　said；　'but　not　by　you。'

'But　I　say　it　now。　And　why　not？　Even　if　Gollum　said　the　same　once。　It's　not　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　got　far　too　much　hold　on　you。　Let　it　go！　And　then　you　can　go　yourself；　and　be　free。'

'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　have　been　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't　get　it。　I　won't　give　my　precious　away；　I　tell　you。'　His　hand　strayed　to　the　hilt　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　Grey　uncloaked。'　He　took　a　step　towards　the　hobbit；　and　he　seemed　to　grow　tall　and　menacing；　his　shadow　filled　the　little　room。

Bilbo　backed　away　to　the　wall；　breathing　hard；　his　hand　clutching　at　his　pocket。　They　stood　for　a　while　facing　one　another；　and　the　air　of　the　room　tingled。　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；　Gandalf；'　he　said。　'You　have　never　been　like　this　before。　What　is　it　all　about？　It　is　mine　isn't　it？　I　found　it；　and　Gollum　would　have　killed　me；　if　I　hadn't　kept　it。　I'm　not　a　thief；　whatever　he　said。'

'I　have　never　called　you　one；'　Gandalf　answered。　'And　I　am　not　one　either。　I　am　not　trying　to　rob　you；　but　to　help　you。　I　wish　you　would　trust　me；　as　you　used。'　He　turned　away；　and　the　shadow　passed。　He　seemed　to　dwindle　again　to　an　old　grey　man；　bent　and　troubled。

Bilbo　drew　his　hand　over　his　eyes。　I　am　sorry；'　he　said。　'But　I　felt　so　queer。　And　yet　it　would　be　a　relief　in　a　way　not　to　be　bothered　with　it　any　more。　It　has　been　so　growing　on　my　mind　lately。　Sometimes　I　have　felt　it　was　like　an　eye　looking　at　me。　And　I　am　always　wanting　to　put　it　on　and　disappear；　don't　you　know；　or　wondering　if　it