return

many partings 1293
wrought silver. ‘Think of me when you smoke them!’ he said.
‘The Elves made them for me, but I don’t smoke now.’ And
then suddenly he nodded and went to sleep for a little; and
when he woke up again he said: ‘Now where were we? Yes,
of course, giving presents. Which reminds me: what’s become
of my ring, Frodo, that you took away?’
‘I have lost it, Bilbo dear,’ said Frodo. ‘I got rid of it, you
know.’
‘What a pity!’ said Bilbo. ‘I should have liked to see it again.
But no, how silly of me! That’s what you went for, wasn’t it:
to get rid of it? But it is all so confusing, for such a lot of
other things seem to have got mixed up with it: Aragorn’s
affairs, and the White Council, and Gondor, and the Horsemen,
and Southrons, and oliphaunts – did you really see one,
Sam? – and caves and towers and golden trees, and goodness
knows what besides.
‘I evidently came back by much too straight a road from
my trip. I think Gandalf might have shown me round a bit.
But then the auction would have been over before I got back,
and I should have had even more trouble than I did. Anyway
it’s too late now; and really I think it’s much more comfortable
to sit here and hear about it all. The fire’s very cosy here,
and the food’s very good, and there are Elves when you want
them. What more could one want?
The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.’
And as Bilbo murmured the last words his head dropped
on his chest and he slept soundly.