the fellowship of the ring-第9部分

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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；　Gandalf；'　he　said。　'You　have　neverbeen　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　oneeither。　I　am　not　trying　to　rob　you；　but　to　help　you。　I　wish　you　would　trustme；　as　you　used。'　He　turned　away；　and　the　shadow　passed。　He　seemed　to　dwindleagain　to　an　old　grey　man；　bent　and　troubled。　
Bilbo　drew　his　hand　over　his　eyes。　I　am　sorry；'　he　said。　'But　I　felt　soqueer。　And　yet　it　would　be　a　relief　in　a　way　not　to　be　bothered　with　it　anymore。　It　has　been　so　growing　on　my　mind　lately。　Sometimes　I　have　felt　it　waslike　an　eye　looking　at　me。　And　I　am　always　wanting　to　put　it　on　and　disappear；　
don't　you　know；　or　wondering　if　it　is　safe；　and　pulling　it　out　to　make　sure。　Itried　locking　it　up；　but　I　found　I　couldn't　rest　without　it　in　my　pocket。　Idon't　know　why。　And　I　don't　seem　able　to　make　up　my　mind。'　
'Then　trust　mine；'　said　Gandalf。　'It　is　quite　made　up。　Go　away　and　leaveit　behind。　Stop　possessing　it。　Give　it　to　Frodo；　and　I　will　look　after　him。'　
Bilbo　stood　for　a　moment　tense　and　undecided。　Presently　he　sighed。　'Allright；'　he　said　with　an　effort。　I　will。'　Then　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　andsmiled　rather　ruefully。　'After　all　that's　what　this　party　business　was　allabout；　really：　to　give　away　lots　of　birthday　presents；　and　somehow　make　iteasier　to　give　it　away　at　the　same　time。　It　hasn't　made　it　any　easier　in　theend；　but　it　would　be　a　pity　to　waste　all　my　preparations。　It　would　quite　spoilthe　joke。'　
'Indeed　it　would　take　away　the　only　point　I　ever　saw　in　the　affair；'　saidGandalf。　　
'Very　well；'　said　Bilbo；　'it　goes　to　Frodo　with　all　the　rest。'　He　drew　adeep　breath。　'And　now　I　really　must　be　starting；　or　somebody　else　will　catchme。　I　have　said　good…bye；　and　I　couldn't　bear　to　do　it　all　over　again。'　Hepicked　up　his　bag　and　moved　to　the　door。　
'You　have　still　got　the　ring　in　your　pocket；'　said　the　wizard。　'Well；　soI　have！'　cried　Bilbo。　'And　my　will　and　all　the　other　do