folding in a moment； and their shining branchesdropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits； disappearing with asweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces。 There werefountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees； there werepillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles； or sailing ships；
or a phalanx of flying swans； there was a red thunderstorm and a shower ofyellow rain； there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into theair with a yell like an embattled army； and came down again into the Waterwith a hiss like a hundred hot snakes。 And there was also one last surprise；
in honour of Bilbo； and it startled the hobbits exceedingly； as Gandalfintended。 The lights went out。 A great smoke went up。 It shaped itself like amountain seen in the distance； and began to glow at the summit。 It spoutedgreen and scarlet flames。 Out flew a red…golden dragon – not life…size； butterribly life…like： fire came from his jaws； his eyes glared down； there was aroar； and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd。 They all ducked；
and many fell flat on their faces。 The dragon passed like an express train；
turned a somersault； and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion。
'That is the signal for supper！' said Bilbo。 The pain and alarm vanishedat once； and the prostrate hobbits leaped to their feet。 There was a splendidsupper for everyone； for everyone； that is； except those invited to the
special family dinner…party。 This was held in the great pavilion with thetree。 The invitations were limited to twelve dozen （a number also called bythe hobbits one Gross； though the word was not considered proper to use ofpeople）； and the guests were selected from all the families to which Bilbo andFrodo were related； with the addition of a few special unrelated friends （suchas Gandalf）。 Many young hobbits were included； and present by parentalpermission； for hobbits were easy…going with their children in the matter ofsitting up late； especially when there was a chance of getting them a freemeal。 Bringing up young hobbits took a lot of provender。
There were many Bagginses and Boffins； and also many Tooks andBrandybucks； there were various Grubbs （relations of Bilbo Baggins'grandmother）； and various Chubbs （connexions of his Took grandfather）； and aselection of Burrowses； Bolgers； Bracegirdles； Brockhouses； Goodbodies；
Hornblowers and Proudfoots。 Some of these were only very distantly connectedwith Bilbo； and some of them had hardly ever been in Hobbiton before； as theylived in remote corners of the Shire。 The Sackville…Bagginses were notforgotten。 Otho and his wife Lobelia were present。 They disliked Bilbo anddetested Frodo； but so magnificent was the invitation card； written in goldenink； that they had felt it was impossible to refuse。 Besides； their cousin；
Bilbo； had been specializing in food for many years and his table had a highreputation。
All the one hundred and forty…four guests expected a pleasant feast；
though they rather dreaded the after…dinner speech of their host （aninevitable item）。 He was liable to drag in bits of what he called poetry； andsometimes； after a glass or two； would allude to the absurd adventures of hismysterious journey。 The guests were not disappointed： they had a _very_
pleasant feast； in fact an engrossing entertainment： rich； abundant； varied；
and prolonged。 The purchase of provisions fell almost to nothing throughoutthe district in the ensuing weeks； but as Bilbo's catering had depleted thestocks of most stores； cellars and warehouses for miles around； that did notmatter much。
After the feast （more or less） came the Speech。 Most of the pany were；
however； now in a tolerant mood； at that delightful stage which they called'filling up the corners'。 They were sipping their favourite drinks； andnibbling at their favourite dainties； and their fears were forgotten。 Theywere prepared to listen to anything； and to cheer at every full stop。
_My dear People；_ began Bilbo； rising in his place。 'Hear！ Hear！ Hear！'
they shouted； and kept on repeating it in chorus； seeming reluctant to followtheir own advice。 Bilbo left his place and went and stood on a chair under theilluminated tree。 The light of the lanterns fell on his beaming face； thegolden buttons shone on his embroidered silk waistcoat。 They could all see himstanding； waving one hand in the air； the other was in his trouser…pocket。
_My dear Bagginses and Boffins；_ he began again； _and my dear Tooks andBrandybucks； and Grubbs； and Chubbs； and Burrowses； and Hornblowers； andBolgers； Bracegirdles； Goodbodies； Brockhouses and Proudfoots。_ 'ProudFEET！'
shouted an elderly hobbit from the back of the pavilion。 His name； of course；
was Proudfoot； and well merited； his feet were large； exceptionally furry； andboth were on the table。
_Proudfoots；_ repeated Bilbo。 _Also my good Sackville…Bagginses that Iwele back at last to Bag End。 Today is my one hundred and eleventhbirthday： I am eleventy…one today！_ 'Hurray！ Hurray！ Many Happy Returns！' theyshouted； and they hammered joyously on the tables。 Bilbo was doing splendidly。
This was the sort of stuff they liked： short and obvious。
_I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am。_ Deafeningcheers。 Cries of _Yes_ （and _No）。_ Noises of trumpets and horns； pipes andflutes； and other musical instruments。 There were； as has been said； manyyoung hobbits present。 Hundreds of musical crackers had been pulled。 Most ofthem bore the mark DALE on them； which did not convey much to most of thehobbits； but they all agreed they were marvellous crackers。 They containedinstruments； small； but of perfect make and enchanting tones。 Indeed； in one
corner some of the young Tooks and Brandybucks； supposing Uncle Bilbo to havefinished （since he had plainly said all that was necessary）； now got up animpromptu orchestra； and began a merry dance…tune。 Master Everard Took andMiss Melilot Brandybuck got on a table and with bells in their hands began todance the Springle…ring： a pretty dance； but rather vigorous。
But Bilbo had not finished。 Seizing a horn from a youngster near by； heblew three loud hoots。 The noise subsided。 _I shall not keep you long；_ hecried。 Cheers from all the assembly。 _I have called you all together for aPurpose。_ Something in the way that he said this made an impression。 There wasalmost silence； and one or two of the Tooks pricked up their ears。
_Indeed； for Three Purposes！ First of all； to tell you that I amimmensely fond of you all； and that eleventy…one years is too short a time tolive among such excellent and admirable hobbits。_ Tremendous outburst ofapproval。
_I don't know half of you half as well as I should like； and I like lessthan half of you half as well as you deserve。_ This was unexpected and ratherdifficult。 There was some scattered clapping； but most of them were trying towork it out and see if it came to a pliment。
_Secondly； to celebrate my birthday。_ Cheers again。 _I should say： OURbirthday。 For it is； of course； also the birthday of my heir and nephew；
Frodo。 He es of age and into his inheritance today。_ Some perfunctoryclapping by the elders； and some loud shouts of 'Frodo！ Frodo！ Jolly oldFrodo；' from the juniors。 The Sackville…Bagginses scowled； and wondered whatwas meant by 'ing into his inheritance'。 _Together we score one hundred andforty…four。 Your numbers were chosen to fit this remarkable total： One Gross；
if I may use the expression。_ No cheers。 This was ridiculous。 Many of hisguests； and especially the Sackville…Bagginses； were insulted； feeling surethey had only been asked to fill up the required number； like goods in apackage。 'One Gross； indeed！ Vulgar expression。'
_It is also； if I may be allowed to refer to ancient history； theanniversary of my arrival by barrel at Esgaroth on the Long Lake； though thefact that it was_ my _birthday slipped my memory on that occasion。 I was onlyfifty…one then； and birthdays did not seem so important。 The banquet was verysplendid； however； though I had a bad cold at the time； I remember； and couldonly say 'thag you very buch'。 I now repeat it more correctly： Thank you verymuch for ing to my little party。_ Obstinate silence。 They all feared that asong or some poetry was now imminent； and they were getting bored。 Whycouldn't he stop talking and let them drink his health？ But Bilbo did not singor recite。 He paused for a moment。
_Thirdly and finally；_ he said； _I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT_。 Hespoke this last word so loudly and suddenly that everyone sat up who stillcould。 _I regret to announce that – though； as I said； eleventy…one years isfar too short a time to spend among you – this is the END。 I am going。 I amleaving NOW。 GOOD…BYE！_
He stepped down and vanished。 There was a blinding flash of light； andthe guests all blinked。 When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to beseen。 One hundred and forty…four flabbergasted hobbits sat back speechless。
Old Odo Proudfoot removed his feet from the table and stamped。 Then there wasa dead silence； until suddenly； after several deep breaths； every Baggins；
Boffin； Took； Brandybuck； Grubb； Chubb； Burrows； Bolger； Bracegirdle；
Brockhouse； Goodbody； Hornblower； and Proudfoot began to talk at once。
It was generally agreed that the joke was in very bad taste； and morefood and drink were needed to cure the guests of shock and annoyance。 'He'smad。 I always said so；' was probably the most popular ment。 Even the Tooks（with a few exceptions） thought Bilbo's behaviour was absurd。 For the momentmost of them took it for granted that his disappearance was nothing more thana ridiculous prank。
But old Rory Brandybuck was not so sure。 Neither age nor an enormousdinner had clouded his wits； and he said to his daughter…in…law； Esmeralda：
'There's something fishy in this； my dear！ I believe that mad Baggins is off
again。 Silly old fool。 But why worry？ He hasn't taken the vittles with him。'
He called loudly to Frodo to send the wine round again。
Frodo was the only one present who had said nothing。 For some time he hadsat silent beside Bilbo's empty chair； and ignored all remarks and questions。
He had enjoyed the joke； of course； even though he had been in the know。 Hehad difficulty in keeping f