lan of mine； thoughI was waiting for you。 We heard news of you； and learned that you werewandering。 We guessed you'd e ere long down to the water： all paths leadthat way； down to Withywindle。 Old grey Willow…man； he's a mighty singer； andit's hard for little folk to escape his cunning mazes。 But Tom had an errandthere； that he dared not hinder。' Tom nodded as if sleep was taking him again；
but he went on in a soft singing voice：
I had an errand there： gathering water…lilies；
green leaves and lilies white to please my pretty lady；
the last ere the year's end to keep them from the winter；
to flower by her pretty feet tilt the snows are melted。
Each year at summer's end I go to find them for her；
in a wide pool； deep and clear； far down Withywindle；
there they open first in spring and there they linger latest。
By that pool long ago I found the River…daughter；
fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes。
Sweet was her singing then； and her heart was beating！
He opened his eyes and looked at them with a sudden glint of blue：
And that proved well for you – for now I shall no longergo down deep again along the forest…water；
not while the year is old。 Nor shall I be passingOld Man Willow's house this side of spring…time；
not till the merry spring； when the River…daughterdances down the withy…path to bathe in the water。
He fell silent again； but Frodo could not help asking one more question：
the one he most desired to have answered。 'Tell us； Master；' he said； 'aboutthe Willow…man。 What is he？ I have never heard of him before。'
'No； don't！' said Merry and Pippin together； sitting suddenly upright。
'Not now！ Not until the morning！'
'That is right！' said the old man。 'Now is the time for resting。 Somethings are ill to hear when the world's in shadow。 Sleep till the morning…
light； rest on the pillow！ Heed no nightly noise！ Fear no grey willow！' Andwith that he took down the lamp and blew it out； and grasping a candle ineither hand he led them out of the room。
Their mattresses and pillows were soft as down； and the blankets were ofwhite wool。 They had hardly laid themselves on the deep beds and drawn thelight covers over them before they were asleep。
In the dead night； Frodo lay in a dream without light。 Then he saw theyoung moon rising； under its thin light there loomed before him a black wallof rock； pierced by a dark arch like a great gate。 It seemed to Frodo that hewas lifted up； and passing over he saw that the rock…wall was a circle ofhills； and that within it was a plain； and in the midst of the plain stood apinnacle of stone； like a vast tower but not made by hands。 On its top stoodthe figure of a man。 The moon as it rose seemed to hang for a moment above hishead and glistened in his white hair as the wind stirred it。 Up from the darkplain below came the crying of fell voices； and the howling of many wolves。
Suddenly a shadow； like the shape of great wings； passed across the moon。 Thefigure lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded。 Amighty eagle swept down and bore him away。 The voices wailed and the wolvesyammered。 There was a noise like a strong wind blowing； and on it was borne
the sound of hoofs； galloping； galloping； galloping from the East。 'BlackRiders！' thought Frodo as he wakened； with the sound of the hoofs stillechoing in his mind。 He wondered if he would ever again have the courage toleave the safety of these stone walls。 He lay motionless； still listening； butall was now silent； and at last he turned and fell asleep again or wanderedinto some other unremembered dream。
At his side Pippin lay dreaming pleasantly； but a change came over hisdreams and he turned and groaned。 Suddenly he woke； or thought he had waked；
and yet still heard in the darkness the sound that had disturbed his dream：
_tip…tap； squeak_： the noise was like branches fretting in the wind； twig…
fingers scraping wall and window： _creak； creak； creak。_ He wondered if therewere willow…trees close to the house； and then suddenly he had a dreadfulfeeling that he was not in an ordinary house at all； but inside the willow andlistening to that horrible dry creaking voice laughing at him again。 He satup； and felt the soft pillows yield to his hands； and he lay down againrelieved。 He seemed to hear the echo of words in his ears： 'Fear nothing！ Havepeace until the morning！ Heed no nightly noises！' Then he went to sleep again。
It was the sound of water that Merry heard falling into his quiet sleep：
water streaming down gently； and then spreading； spreading irresistibly allround the house into a dark shoreless pool。 It gurgled under the walls； andwas rising slowly but surely。 'I shall be drowned！' he thought。 It will findits way in； and then I shall drown。' He felt that he was lying in a soft slimybog； and springing up he set his fool on the corner of a cold hard flagstone。
Then he remembered where he was and lay down again。 He seemed to hear orremember hearing： 'Nothing passes doors or windows save moonlight andstarlight and the wind off the hill…top。' A little breath of sweet air movedthe curtain。 He breathed deep and fell asleep again。
As far as he could remember； Sam slept through the night in deep content；
if logs are contented。
They woke up； all four at once； in the morning light。 Tom was movingabout the room whistling like a starling。 When he heard them stir he clappedhis hands； and cried： 'Hey！ e merry dol！ derry dol！ My hearties！' He drewback the yellow curtains； and the hobbits saw that these had covered thewindows； at either end of the room； one looking east and the other lookingwest。
They leapt up refreshed。 Frodo ran to the eastern window； and foundhimself looking into a kitchen…garden grey with dew。 He had half expected tosee turf right up to the walls； turf all pocked with hoof…prints。 Actually hisview was screened by a tall line of beans on poles； but above and far beyondthem the grey top of the hill loomed up against the sunrise。 It was a palemorning： in the East； behind long clouds like lines of soiled wool stained redat the edges； lay glimmering deeps of yellow。 The sky spoke of rain to e；
but the light was broadening quickly； and the red flowers on the beans beganto glow against the wet green leaves。
Pippin looked out of the western window； down into a pool of mist。 TheForest was hidden under a fog。 It was like looking down on to a sloping cloud…
roof from above。 There was a fold or channel where the mist was broken into
many plumes and billows； the valley of the Withywindle。 The stream ran downthe hill on the left and vanished into the white shadows。 Near at hand was a
flower…garden and a clipped hedge silver…netted； and beyond that grey shavengrass pale with dew…drops。 There was no willow…tree to be seen。
'Good morning； merry friends！' cried Tom； opening the eastern windowwide。 A cool air flowed in； it had a rainy smell。 'Sun won't show her facemuch today。 I'm thinking。 I have been walking wide； leaping on the hilltops；
since the grey dawn began； nosing wind and weather； wet grass underfoot； wetsky above me。 I wakened Goldberry singing under window； but nought wakeshobbit…folk in the early morning。 In the night little folk wake up in thedarkness； and sleep after light has e！ Ring a ding dillo！ Wake now； mymerry friends！ Forget the nightly noises！ Ring a ding dillo del！ derry del； myhearties！ If you e soon you'll find breakfast on the table。 If you e
late you'll get grass and rain…water！'
Needless to say – not that Tom's threat sounded very serious – thehobbits came soon； and left the table late and only when it was beginning lolook rather empty。 Neither Tom nor Goldberry were there。 Tom could be heardabout the house； clattering in the kitchen； and up and down the stairs； andsinging here and there outside。 The room looked westward over the mist…cloudedvalley； and the window was open。 Water dripped down from the thatched eavesabove。 Before they had finished breakfast the clouds had joined into anunbroken roof； and a straight grey rain came softly and steadily down。 Behindits deep curtain the Forest was pletely veiled。
As they looked out of the window there came falling gently as if it wasflowing down the rain out of the sky； the clear voice of Goldberry singing upabove them。 They could hear few words； but it seemed plain to them that thesong was a rain…song； as sweet as showers on dry hills； that told the tale ofa river from the spring in the highlands to the Sea far below。 The hobbitslistened with delight； and Frodo was glad in his heart； and blessed the kindlyweather； because it delayed them from departing。 The thought of going had beenheavy upon him from the moment he awoke； but he guessed now that they wouldnot go further that day。
The upper wind settled in the West and deeper and wetter clouds rolled upto spill their laden rain on the bare heads of the Downs。 Nothing could beseen all round the house but falling water。 Frodo stood near the open door andwatched the white chalky path turn into a little river of milk and go bubblingaway down into the valley。 Tom Bombadil came trotting round the corner of thehouse； waving his arms as if he was warding off the rain – and indeed when hesprang over the threshold he seemed quite dry； except for his boots。 These hetook off and put in the chimney…corner。 Then he sat in the largest chair andcalled the hobbits to gather round him。
'This is Goldberry's washing day；' he said； 'and her autumn…cleaning。 Toowet for hobbit…folk – let them rest while they are able！ It's a good day forlong tales； for questions and for answers； so Tom will start the talking。'
He then told them many remarkable stories； sometimes half as if speakingto himself； sometimes looking at them suddenly with a bright blue eye underhis deep brows。 Often his voice would turn to song； and he would get out ofhis chair and dance about。 He told them tales of bees and flowers； the ways oftrees； and the strange creatures of the Forest； about the evil things and goodthings； things friendly and things unfriendly； cruel things and kind things；
and secrets hidden under brambles。
As they listened； they began to understand the lives of the Forest； apartfrom themselves； indeed to feel themselves as the strangers where all