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ng 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 documents too。 You hadbetter take it and deliver it for me。 That will be safest。'
'No； don't give the ring to me；' said Gandalf。 'Put it on themantelpiece。 It will be safe enough there； till Frodo es。 I shall wait forhim。'
Bilbo took out the envelope； but just as he was about to set it by theclock； his hand jerked back； and the packet fell on the floor。 Before he couldpick it up； the wizard stooped and seized it and set it in its place。 A spasmof anger passed swiftly over the hobbit's face again。 Suddenly it gave way toa look of relief and a laugh。 'Well； that's that；' he said。 'Now I'm off！'
They went out into the hall。 Bilbo chose his favourite stick from thestand； then he whistled。 Three dwarves came out of different rooms where theyhad been busy。
'Is everything ready？' asked Bilbo。 'Everything packed and labelled？'
'Everything；' they answered。
'Well； let's start then！' He stepped out of the front…door。
It was a fine night； and the black sky was dotted with stars。 He looked
up； sniffing t