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 otherthings were at home。 Moving constantly in and out of his talk was Old ManWillow； and Frodo learned now enough to content him； indeed more than enough；
for it was not fortable lore。 Tom's words laid bare the hearts of trees and
their thoughts； which were often dark and strange； and filled with a hatred ofthings that go free upon the earth； gnawing； biting； breaking； hacking；
burning： destroyers and usurpers。 It was not called the Old Forest withoutreason； for it was indeed ancient； a survivor of vast forgotten woods； and init there lived yet； ageing no quicker than the hills； the fathers of thefathers of trees； remembering times when they were lords。 The countless yearshad filled them with pride and rooted wisdom； and with malice。 But none weremore dangerous than the Great Willow： his heart was rotten； but his strengthwas green； and he was cunning； and a master of winds； and his song and thoughtran through the woods on both sides of the river。 His grey thirsty spirit drewpower out of the earth and spread like fine root…threads in the ground； andinvisible twig…fingers in the air； till it had under its dominion nearly allthe trees of the Forest from the Hedge to the Downs。
Suddenly Tom's talk left the woods and went leaping up the young stream；
over bubbling waterfalls； over pebbles and worn rocks； and among small flowersin close grass and wet crannies； wandering at last up on to the Downs。 Theyheard of the Great Barrows； and the green mounds； and the stone…rings upon the
hills and in the hollows among the hills。 Sheep were bleating in flocks。 Greenwalls and white walls rose。 There were fortresses on the heights。 Kings oflittle kingdoms fought together； and the young Sun shone like fire on the redmetal of their new and greedy swords。 There was victory and defeat； and towersfell； fortresses were burned； and flames went up into the sky。 Gold was piledon the biers of dead kings and queens； and mounds covered them； and the stonedoors were shut； and the grass grew over all。 Sheep walked for a while bitingthe grass； but soon the hills were empty again。 A shadow came out of darkplaces far away； and the bones were stirred in the mounds。 Barrow…wightswalked in the hollow places with a clink of rings on cold fingers； and goldchains in the wind。' Stone rings grinned out of the ground like broken teethin the moonlight。
The hobbits shuddered。 Even in the Shire the rumour of the Barrow…wightsof the Barrow…downs beyond the Forest had been heard。 But it was not a talethat any hobbit liked to listen to； even by a fortable fireside far away。
These four now suddenly remembered what the joy of this house had driven fromtheir minds： the house of Tom Bombadil nestled under the very shoulder ofthose dreaded hills。 They lost the thread of his tale and shifted uneasily；
looking aside at one another。
When they caught his words again they found that he had now wandered intostrange regions beyond their memory and beyond their waking thought； intolimes when the world was wider； and the seas flowed straight to the westernShore； and still on and back Tom went singing out into ancient starlight； whenonly the Elf…sires were awake。 Then suddenly he slopped； and they saw that henodded as if he was falling asleep。 The hobbits sat still before him；
enchanted； and it seemed as if； under the spell of his words； the wind hadgone； and the clouds had dried up； and the day had been withdrawn； anddarkness had e from East and West； and all the sky was filled with thelight of white stars。
Whether the morning and evening of one day or of many days had passedFrodo could not tell。 He did not feel either hungry or tired； only filled withwonder。 The stars shone through the window and the silence of the heavensseemed to be round him。 He spoke at last out of his wonder and a sudden fearof that silence：
'Who are you； Master？' he asked。
'Eh； what？' said Tom sitting up； and his eyes glinting in the gloom。
'Don't you know my name yet？ That's the only answer。 Tell me； who are you；
alone； yourself and nameless？ But you are young and I am old。 Eldest； that'swhat I am。 Mark my words； my friends： Tom was here before the river and thetrees； Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn。 He made pathsbefore the Big People； and saw the little People arriving。 He was here beforethe Kings and the graves and the Barrow…wights。 When the Elves passedwestward； Tom was here already； before the seas were bent。 He knew the darkunder the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from
Outside。'
A shadow seemed to pass by the window； and the hobbits glanced hastilythrough the panes。 When they turned again； Goldberry stood in the door behind；
framed in light。 She held a candle； shielding its flame from the draught withher hand； and the light flowed through it； like sunlight through a whiteshell。
'The rain has ended；' she said； 'and new waters are running downhill；
under the stars。 Let us now laugh and be glad！'
'And let us have food and drink！' cried Tom。 'Long tales are thirsty。 Andlong listening's hungry work； morning； noon； and evening！' With that he jumpedout of his chair； and with a bound took a candle from the chimney…shelf andlit it in the flame that Goldberry held； then he danced about the table。
Suddenly he hopped through the door and disappeared。
Quickly he returned； bearing a large and laden tray。 Then Tom andGoldberry set the table； and the hobbits sat half in wonder and half inlaughter： so fair was the grace of Goldberry and so merry and odd the
caperings of Tom。 Yet in some fashion they seemed to weave a single dance；
neither hindering the other； in and out of the room； and round about thetable； and with great speed food and vessels and lights were set in order。 Theboards blazed with candles； white and yellow。 Tom bowed to his guests。 'Supperis ready；' said Goldberry； and now the hobbits saw that she was clothed all insilver with a white girdle； and her shoes were like fishes' mail。 But Tom wasall in clean blue； blue as rain…washed forget…me…nots； and he had greenstockings。
It was a supper even better than before。 The hobbits under the spell ofTom's words may have missed one meal or many； but when the food was beforethem it seemed at least a week since they had eaten。 They did not sing or evenspeak much for a while； and paid close attention to business。 But after a timetheir hearts and spirit rose high again； and their voices rang out in mirthand laughter。
After they had eaten； Goldberry sang many songs for them； songs thatbegan merrily in the hills and fell softly down into silence； and in thesilences they saw in their minds pools and waters wider than any they hadknown； and looking into them they saw the sky below them and the stars likejewels in the depths。 Then once more she wished them each good night and leftthem by the fireside。 But Tom now seemed wide awake and plied them withquestions。
He appeared already to know much about them and all their families； andindeed to know much of all the history and doings of the Shire down from dayshardly remembered among the hobbits themselves。 It no longer surprised them；
but he made no secret that he owed his recent knowledge largely to FarmerMaggot； whom he seemed to regard as a person of more importance than they hadimagined。 'There's earth under his old feet； and clay on his fingers； wisdomin his bones； and both his eyes are open；' said Tom。 It was also clear thatTom had dealings with the Elves； and it seemed that in some fashion； news hadreached him from Gildor concerning the flight of Frodo。
Indeed so much did Tom know； and so cunning was his questioning； thatFrodo found himself telling him more about Bilbo and his own hopes and fearsthan he had told before even to Gandalf。 Tom wagged his head up and down； andthere was a glint in his eyes when he heard of the Riders。
'Show me the precious Ring！' he said suddenly in the midst of the story：
and Frodo； to his own astonishment； drew out the chain from his pocket； andunfastening the Ring handed it at once to Tom。
It seemed to grow larger as it lay for a moment on his big brown…skinnedhand。 Then suddenly he put it to his eye and laughed。 For a second the hobbitshad a vision； both ical and alarming； of his bright blue eye gleamingthrough a circle of gold。 Then Tom put the Ring round the end of his littlefinger and held it up to the candlelight。 For a moment the hobbits noticednothing strange about this。 Then they gasped。 There was no sign of Tomdisappearing！
Tom laughed again； and then he spun the Ring in the air – and it vanishedwith a flash。 Frodo gave a cry – and Tom leaned forward and handed it back tohim with a smile。
Frodo looked at it closely； and rather suspiciously （like one who haslent a trinket to a juggler）。 It was the same Ring； or looked the same andweighed the same： for that Ring had always seemed to Frodo to weigh strangelyheavy in the hand。 But something prompted him to make sure。 He was perhaps atrifle annoyed with Tom for seeming to make so light of what even Gandalfthought so perilously important。 He waited for an opportunity； when the talkwas going again； and Tom was telling an absurd story about badgers and theirqueer ways – then he slipped the Ring on。
Merry turned towards him to say something and gave a start； and checkedan exclamation。 Frodo was delighted （in a way）： it was his own ring all right；
for Merry was staring blankly at his chair； and obviously could not see him。
He got up and crept quietly away from the fireside towards the outer door。
'Hey there！' cried Tom； glancing towards him with a most seeing look in
his shining eyes。 'Hey！ e Frodo； there！ Where be you a…going？ Old TomBombadil's not as blind as that yet。 Take off your golden ring！ Your hand'smore fair without it。 e back！ Leave your game and sit down beside me！ Wemust talk a while more； and think about the morning。 Tom must teach the rightroad； and keep your feet from wandering。'
Frodo laughed （trying to feel pleased）； and taking off the Ring he cameand sat down again。 Tom now told them that he reckoned the Sun would sh