He had enjoyed the joke； of course； even though he had been in the know。 Hehad difficulty in keeping from laughter at the indignant surprise of theguests。 But at the same time he felt deeply troubled： he realized suddenlythat he loved the old hobbit dearly。 Most of the guests went on eating anddrinking and discussing Bilbo Baggins' oddities； past and present； but theSackville…Bagginses had already departed in wrath。 Frodo did not want to haveany more to do with the party。 He gave orders for more wine to be served； thenhe got up and drained his own glass silently to the health of Bilbo； andslipped out of the pavilion。
As for Bilbo Baggins； even while he was making his speech； he had beenfingering the golden ring in his pocket： his magic ring that he had keptsecret for so many years。 As he stepped down he slipped it on his finger； andhe was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again。
He walked briskly back to his hole； and stood for a moment listening witha smile to the din in the pavilion and to the sounds of merrymaking in otherparts of the field。 Then he went in。 He took off his party clothes； folded upand wrapped in tissue…paper his embroidered silk waistcoat； and put it away。
Then he put on quickly some old untidy garments； and fastened round his waista worn leather belt。 On it he hung a short sword in a battered black…leatherscabbard。 From a locked drawer； smelling of moth…balls； he took out an oldcloak and hood。 They had been locked up as if they were very precious； butthey were so patched and weatherstained that their original colour couldhardly be guessed： it might have been dark green。 They were rather too largefor him。 He then went into his study； and from a large strong…box took out abundle wrapped in old cloths； and a leather…bound manuscript； and also a largebulky envelope。 The book and bundle he stuffed into the top of a heavy bagthat was standing there； already nearly full。 Into the envelope he slipped hisgolden ring； and its fine chain； and then sealed it； and addressed it toFrodo。 At first he put it on the mantelpiece； but suddenly he removed it andstuck it in his pocket。 At that moment the door opened and Gandalf camequickly in。
'Hullo！' said Bilbo。 'I wondered if you would turn up。'
'I am glad to find you visible；' replied the wizard； sitting down in achair； 'I wanted to catch you and have a few final words。 I suppose you feelthat everything has gone off splendidly and according to plan？'
'Yes； I do；' said Bilbo。 〃Though that flash was surprising： it quitestartled me； let alone the others。 A little addition of your own； I suppose？'
It was。 You have wisely kept that ring secret all these years； and itseemed to me necessary to give your guests something else that would seem toexplain your sudden vanishment。'
'And would spoil my joke。 You are an interfering old busybody；' laughedBilbo； 'but I expect you know best； as usual。'
'I do – when I know anything。 But I don't feel too sure about this wholeaffair。 It has now e to the final point。 You have had your joke； andalarmed or offended most of your relations； and given the whole Shiresomething to talk about for nine days； or ninety…nine more likely。 Are yougoing any further？'
'Yes； I am。 I feel I need a holiday； a very long holiday； as I have toldyou before。 Probably a permanent holiday： I don't expect I shall return。 Infact； I don't mean to； and I have made all arrangements。
'I am old； Gandalf。 I don't look it； but I am beginning to feel it in myheart of hearts。 _Well…preserved_ indeed！' he snorted。 'Why； I feel all thin；
sort of _stretched；_ if you know what I mean： like butter that has beenscraped over too much bread。 That can't be right。 I need a change； orsomething。'
Gandalf looked curiously and closely at him。 'No； it does not seem
right；' he said thoughtfully。 'No； after all I believe your plan is probablythe best。'
'Well； I've made up my mind； anyway。 I want to see mountains again；
Gandalf； _mountains；_ and then find somewhere where I can _rest。_ In peace andquiet； without a lot of relatives prying around； and a string of confoundedvisitors hanging on the bell。 I might find somewhere where I can finish mybook。 I have thought of a nice ending for it： _and he lived happily ever afterto the end of his days。 '_
Gandalf laughed。 I hope he will。 But nobody will read the book； howeverit ends。'
'Oh； they may； in years to e。 Frodo has read some already； as far asit has gone。 You'll keep an eye on Frodo； won't you？'
'Yes； I will – two eyes； as often as I can spare them。'
'He would e with me； of course； if I asked him。 In fact he offered toonce； just before the party。 But he does not really want to； yet。 I want tosee the wild country again before I die； and the Mountains； but he is still inlove with the Shire； with woods and fields and little rivers。 He ought to befortable here。 I am leaving everything to him； of course； except a fewoddments。 I hope he will be happy； when he gets used to being on his own。 It'stime he was his own master now。'
'Everything？' said Gandalf。 'The ring as well？ You agreed to that； youremember。'
'Well； er； yes； I suppose so；' stammered Bilbo。
'Where is it？'
'In an envelope； if you must know；' said Bilbo impatiently。 'There on themantelpiece。 Well； no！ Here it is in my pocket！' He hesitated。 'Isn't that oddnow？' he said softly to himself。 'Yet after all； why not？ Why shouldn't itstay there？'
Gandalf looked again very hard at Bilbo； and there was a gleam in hiseyes。 'I think； Bilbo；' he said quietly； 'I should leave it behind。 Don't youwant to？'
'Well yes – and no。 Now it es to it； I don't like parting with it atall； I may say。 And I don't really see why I should。 Why do you want me to？'
he asked； and a curious change came over his voice。 It was sharp withsuspicion and annoyance。 'You are always badgering me about my ring； but youhave never bothered me about the other things that I got on my journey。'
'No； but I had to badger you；' said Gandalf。 'I wanted the truth。 It wasimportant。 Magic rings are – well； magical； and they are rare and curious。 Iwas professionally interested in your ring； you may say； and I still am。 Ishould like to know where it is； if you go wandering again。 Also I think_you_have had it quite long enough。 You won't need it any more。 Bilbo； unlessI am quite mistaken。'
Bilbo flushed； and there was an angry light in his eyes。 His kindly facegrew hard。 'Why not？' he cried。 'And what business is it of yours； anyway； toknow what I do with my own things？ It is my own。 I found it。 It came to me。'
'Yes； yes；' said Gandalf。 'But there is no need to get angry。'
'If I am it is your fault；' said Bilbo。 'It is mine； I tell you。 My own。
My precious。 Yes； my precious。'
The wizard's face remained grave and attentive； and only a flicker in hisdeep eyes showed that he was startled and indeed alarmed。 'It has been calledthat before；' he said； 'but not by you。'
'But I say it now。 And why not？ Even if Gollum said the same once。 It'snot his now； but mine。 And I shall keep it； I say。'
Gandalf stood up。 He spoke sternly。 'You will be a fool if you do。
Bilbo；' he said。 'You make that clearer with every word you say。 It has gotfar too much hold on you。 Let it go！ And then you can go yourself； and befree。'
'I'll do as I choose and go as I please；' said Bilbo obstinately。
'Now； now； my dear hobbit！ ' said Gandalf。 'All your long life we havebeen friends； and you owe me something。 e！ Do as you promised： give it up！
'
'Well； if you want my ring yourself； say so！' cried Bilbo。 'But you won'tget it。 I won't give my precious away； I tell you。' His hand strayed to thehilt of his small sword。
Gandalf's eyes flashed。 It will be my turn to get angry soon；' he said。
If you say that again； I shall。 Then you will see Gandalf the Greyuncloaked。' He took a step towards the hobbit； and he seemed to grow tall andmenacing； his shadow filled the little room。
Bilbo backed away to the wall； breathing hard； his hand clutching at hispocket。 They stood for a while facing one another； and the air of the roomtingled。 Gandalf's eyes remained bent on the hobbit。 Slowly his hands relaxed；
and he began to tremble。
'I don't know what has e over you； Gandalf；' he said。 'You have neverbeen like this before。 What is it all about？ It is mine isn't it？ I found it；
and Gollum would have killed me； if I hadn't kept it。 I'm not a thief；
whatever he said。'
'I have never called you one；' Gandalf answered。 'And I am not oneeither。 I am not trying to rob you； but to help you。 I wish you would trustme； as you used。' He turned away； and the shadow passed。 He seemed to dwindleagain to an old grey man； bent and troubled。
Bilbo drew his hand over his eyes。 I am sorry；' he said。 'But I felt soqueer。 And yet it would be a relief in a way not to be bothered with it anymore。 It has been so growing on my mind lately。 Sometimes I have felt it waslike an eye looking at me。 And I am always wanting to put it on and disappear；
don't you know； or wondering if it is safe； and pulling it out to make sure。 Itried locking it up； but I found I couldn't rest without it in my pocket。 Idon't know why。 And I don't seem able to make up my mind。'
'Then trust mine；' said Gandalf。 'It is quite made up。 Go away and leaveit behind。 Stop possessing it。 Give it to Frodo； and I will look after him。'
Bilbo stood for a moment tense and undecided。 Presently he sighed。 'Allright；' he said with an effort。 I will。' Then he shrugged his shoulders； andsmiled rather ruefully。 'After all that's what this party business was allabout； really： to give away lots of birthday presents； and somehow make iteasier to give it away at the same time。 It hasn't made it any easier in theend； but it would be a pity to waste all my preparations。 It would quite spoilthe joke。'
'Indeed it would take away the only point I ever saw in the affair；' saidGandalf。
'Very well；' said Bilbo； 'it goes to Frodo with all the rest。' He drew adeep breath。 'And now I really must be starting； or somebody else will catchme。 I have said good…bye； and I couldn't bear to do it all over again。' Hepicked up his bag and moved to the door。
'You have still got the ring in your pocket；' said the wizard。 'Well； soI have！' cried Bilbo。 'And my will and all the other do