ive noises ran among the bushes and reeds oneither side of them； and if they looked up to the pale sky； they caught sightof queer gnarled and knobbly faces that gloomed dark against the twilight； andleered down at them from the high bank and the edges of the wood。 They beganto feel that all this country was unreal； and that they were stumbling throughan ominous dream that led to no awakening。
Just as they felt their feet slowing down to a standstill； they noticedthat the ground was gently rising。 The water began to murmur。 In the darknessthey caught the white glimmer of foam； where the river flowed over a shortfall。 Then suddenly the trees came to an end and the mists were left behind。
They stepped out from the Forest； and found a wide sweep of grass welling upbefore them。 The river； now small and swift； was leaping merrily down to meetthem； glinting here and there in the light of the stars； which were alreadyshining in the sky。
The grass under their feet was smooth and short； as if it had been mownor shaven。 The eaves of the Forest behind were clipped； and trim as a hedge。
The path was now plain before them； well…tended and bordered with stone。 Itwound up on to the top of a grassy knoll； now grey under the pale starrynight； and there； still high above them on a further slope； they saw thetwinkling lights of a house。 Down again the path went； and then up again； up along smooth hillside of turf； towards the light。 Suddenly a wide yellow beamflowed out brightly from a door that was opened。 There was Tom Bombadil'shouse before them； up； down； under hill。 Behind it a steep shoulder of theland lay grey and bare； and beyond that the dark shapes of the Barrow…downsstalked away into the eastern night。
They all hurried forward； hobbits and ponies。 Already half theirweariness and all their fears had fallen from them。 _Hey！ e merry dol！_
rolled out the song to greet them。
Hey！ e derry dol！ Hop along； my hearties！
Hobbits！ Ponies all！ We are fond of parties。
Now let the fun begin！ Let us sing together！
Then another clear voice； as young and as ancient as Spring； like thesong of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in thehills； came falling like silver to meet them：
Now let the song begin！ Let us sing together
Of sun； stars； moon and mist； rain and cloudy weather；
Light on the budding leaf； dew on the feather；
Wind on the open hill； bells on the heather；
Reeds by the shady pool； lilies on the water：
Old Tom Bombadil and the River…daughter！
And with that song the hobbits stood upon the threshold； and a goldenlight was all about them。
_Chapter 7_
In the House of Tom Bombadil
The four hobbits stepped over the wide stone threshold； and stood still；
blinking。 They were in a long low room； filled with the light of lampsswinging from the beams of the roof； and on the table of dark polished woodstood many candles； tall and yellow； burning brightly。
In a chair； at the far side of the room facing the outer door； sat awoman。 Her long yellow hair rippled down her shoulders； her gown was green；
green as young reeds； shot with silver like beads of dew； and her belt was ofgold； shaped like a chain of flag…lilies set with the pale…blue eyes offorget…me…nots。 About her feel in wide vessels of green and brown earthenware；
white water…lilies were floating； so that she seemed to be enthroned in themidst of a pool。
'Enter； good guests！' she said； and as she spoke they knew that it washer clear voice they had heard singing。 They came a few timid steps furtherinto the room； and began to bow low； feeling strangely surprised and awkward；
like folk that； knocking at a cottage door to beg for a drink of water； havebeen answered by a fair young elf…queen clad in living flowers。 But beforethey could say anything； she sprang lightly up and over the lily…bowls； andran laughing towards them； and as she ran her gown rustled softly like thewind in the flowering borders of a river。
'e dear folk！' she said； taking Frodo by the hand。 'Laugh and bemerry！ I am Goldberry； daughter of the River。' Then lightly she passed themand closing the door she turned her back to it； with her white arms spread outacross it。 'Let us shut out the night！' she said。 'For you are still afraid；
perhaps； of mist and tree…shadows and deep water； and untame things。 Fearnothing！ For tonight you are under the roof of Tom Bombadil。'
The hobbits looked at her in wonder； and she looked at each of them andsmiled。 'Fair lady Goldberry！' said Frodo at last； feeling his heart movedwith a joy that he did not understand。 He stood as he had at times stoodenchanted by fair elven…voices； but the spell that was now laid upon him wasdifferent： less keen and lofty was the delight； but deeper and nearer tomortal heart； marvellous and yet not strange。 'Fair lady Goldberry！' he saidagain。 'Now the joy that was hidden in the songs we heard is made plain to me。
O slender as a willow…wand！ O clearer than clear water！
O reed by the living pool！ Fair River…daughter！
O spring…time and summer…time； and spring again after！
O wind on the waterfall； and the leaves' laughter！'
Suddenly he stopped and stammered； overe with surprise to hear himselfsaying such things。 But Goldberry laughed。
'Wele！' she said。 'I had not heard that folk of the Shire were so
sweet…tongued。 But I see you are an elf…friend； the light in your eyes and thering in your voice tells it。 This is a merry meeting！ Sit now； and wait forthe Master of the house！ He will not be long。 He is tending your tiredbeasts。'
The hobbits sat down gladly in low rush…seated chairs； while Goldberrybusied herself about the table； and their eyes followed her； for the slendergrace of her movement filled them with quiet delight。 From somewhere behindthe house came the sound of singing。 Every now and again they caught； amongmany a _derry dol_ and a _merry dol_ and a _ring a ding dillo_ the repeatedwords：
Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow；
Bright blue his jacket is； and his boots are yellow。
'Fair lady！' said Frodo again after a while。 'Tell me； if my asking doesnot seem foolish； who is Tom Bombadil？'
'He is；' said Goldberry； staying her swift movements and smiling。
Frodo looked at her questioningly。 'He is； as you have seen him；' shesaid in answer to his look。 'He is the Master of wood； water； and hill。'
'Then all this strange land belongs to him？'
'No indeed！' she answered； and her smile faded。 'That would indeed be aburden；' she added in a low voice； as if to herself。 'The trees and thegrasses and all things growing or living in the land belong each tothemselves。 Tom Bombadil is the Master。 No one has ever caught old Tom walkingin the forest； wading in the water； leaping on the hill…tops under light andshadow。 He has no fear。 Tom Bombadil is master。'
A door opened and in came Tom Bombadil。 He had now no hat and his thickbrown hair was crowned with autumn leaves。 He laughed； and going to Goldberry；
took her hand。
'Here's my pretty lady！' he said； bowing to the hobbits。 'Here's myGoldberry clothed all in silver…green with flowers in her girdle！ Is the tableladen？ I see yellow cream and honeyb； and white bread； and butter； milk；
cheese； and green herbs and ripe berries gathered。 Is that enough for us？ Isthe supper ready？'
'It is；' said Goldberry； 'but the guests perhaps are not？'
Tom clapped his hands and cried： 'Tom； Tom！ your guests are tired； andyou had near forgotten！ e now； my merry friends； and Tom will refresh you！
You shall clean grimy hands； and wash your weary faces； cast off your muddycloaks and b out your tangles！'
He opened the door； and they followed him down a short passage and rounda sharp turn。 They came to a low room with a sloping roof （a penthouse； itseemed； built on to the north end of the house）。 Its walls were of cleanstone； but they were mostly covered with green hanging mats and yellowcurtains。 The floor was flagged； and strewn with fresh green rushes。 Therewere four deep mattresses； each piled with white blankets； laid on the flooralong one side。 Against the opposite wall was a long bench laden with wideearthenware basins； and beside it stood brown ewers filled with water； somecold； some steaming hot。 There were soft green slippers set ready beside eachbed。
Before long； washed and refreshed； the hobbits were seated at the table；
two on each side； while at either end sat Goldberry and the Master。 It was along and merry meal。 Though the hobbits ate； as only famished hobbits can eat；
there was no lack。 The drink in their drinking…bowls seemed to be clear coldwater； yet it went to their hearts like wine and set free their voices。 Theguests became suddenly aware that they were singing merrily； as if it waseasier and more natural than talking。
At last Tom and Goldberry rose and cleared the table swiftly。 The guestswere manded to sit quiet； and were set in chairs； each with a footstool tohis tired feet。 There was a fire in the wide hearth before them； and it wasburning with a sweet smell； as if it were built of apple…wood。 When everythingwas set in order； all the lights in the room were put out； except one lamp anda pair of candles at each end of the chimney…shelf。 Then Goldberry came andstood before them； holding a candle； and she wished them each a good night anddeep sleep。
'Have peace now；' she said； 'until the morning！ Heed no nightly noises！
For nothing passes door and window here save moonlight and starlight and thewind off the hill…top。 Good night！' She passed out of the room with a glimmerand a rustle。 The sound of her footsteps was like a stream falling gently awaydownhill over cool stones in the quiet of night。
Tom sat on a while beside them in silence； while each of them tried to
muster the courage to ask one of the many questions he had meant to ask atsupper。 Sleep gathered on their eyelids。 At last Frodo spoke：
'Did you hear me calling； Master； or was it just chance that brought youat that moment？'
Tom stirred like a man shaken out of a pleasant dream。 'Eh； what？' saidhe。 'Did I hear you calling？ Nay； I did not hear： I was busy singing。 Justchance brought me then； if chance you call it。 It was no plan of mine； thoughI was waiting for you。 We heard news of you； and learned that you werewandering。