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'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 the air。 'What fun！ What fun to be off again； off on the Roadwith dwarves！ This is what I have really been longing for； for years！ Goodbye！
' he said； looking at his old home and bowing to the door。 'Good…bye；
Gandalf！'
'Good…bye； for the present； Bilbo。 Take care of yourself！ You are oldenough； and perhaps wise enough。'
'Take care！ I don't care。 Don't you worry about me！ I am as happy now asI have ever been； and that is saying a great deal。 But the time has e。 I ambeing swept off my feet at last；' he added； and then in a low voice； as if tohimself； he sang softly in the dark：
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began。
Now far ahead the Road has gone；
And I must follow； if I can；
Pursuing it with eager feet；
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet。
And whither then？ I cannot say。
He paused； silent for a moment。 Then without another word he turned awayfrom the lights and voices in the fields and tents； and followed by his threepanions went round into his garden； and trotted down the long sloping path。
He jumped over a low place in the hedge at the bottom； and took to themeadows； passing into the night like a rustle of wind in the grass。
Gandalf remained for a while staring after him into the darkness。
'Goodbye； my dear Bilbo – until our next meeting！' he said softly and wentback indoors。
Frodo came in soon afterwards； and found him sitting in the dark； deep inthought。 'Has he gone？' he asked。
'Yes；' answered Gandalf； 'he has gone at last。'
' I wish – I mean； I hoped until this evening that it was only a joke；'
said Frodo。 'But I knew in my heart that he really meant to go。 He always usedto joke about serious things。 I wish I had e back sooner； just to see himoff。'
I think really he preferred slipping off quietly in the end；' saidGandalf。 'Don't be too troubled。 He'll be all right – now。 He left a packetfor you。 There it is！'
Frodo took the envelope from the mantelpiece； and glanced at it； but didnot open it。
'You'll find his will and all the other documents in there； I think；'
said the wizard。 'You are the master of Bag End now。 And also； I fancy； you'llfind a golden ring。'
'The ring！' exclaimed Frodo。 'Has he left me that？ I wonder why。 Still；
it may be useful。'
'It may； and it may not；' said Gandalf。 'I should not make use of it； ifI were you。 But keep it secret； and keep it safe！ Now I am going to bed。'
As master of Bag End Frodo felt it his painful duty to say good…bye tothe guests。 Rumours of strange events had by now spread all over the field；
but Frodo would only say _no doubt everything will be cleared up in themorning_。 About midnight carriages came for the important folk。 One by onethey rolled away； filled with full but very unsatisfied hobbits。 Gardenerscame by arrangement； and removed in wheel…barrows those that had inadvertentlyremained behind。
Night slowly passed。 The sun rose。 The hobbits rose rather later。 Morningwent on。 People came and began （by orders） to clear away the pavilions and thetables and the chairs； and the spoons and knives and bottles and plates； andthe lanterns； and the flowering shrubs in boxes； and the crumbs and cracker…
paper； the forgotten bags and gloves and handkerchiefs； and the uneaten food（a very small item）。 Then a number of other people came （without orders）：
Bagginses； and Boffins； and Bolgers； and Tooks； and other guests that lived orwere staying near。 By mid…day； when even the best…fed were out and aboutagain； there was a large crowd at Bag End； uninvited but not unexpected。
Frodo was waiting on the step； smiling； but looking rather tired andworried。 He weled all the callers； but he had not much more to say thanbefore。 His reply to all inquiries was simply this： 'Mr。 Bilbo Baggins hasgone away； as far as I know； for good。' Some of the visitors he invited toe inside； as Bilbo had left 'messages' for them。
Inside in the hall there was piled a large assortment of packages andparcels and small articles of furniture。 On every item there was a label tied。
There were several labels of this sort：
_For ADELARD TOOK； for his VERY OWN； from Bilbo；_ on an umbrella。 Adelardhad carried off many unlabelled ones。
_For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence； with love fromBilbo；_ on a large waste…paper basket。 Dora was Drogo's sister and the eldestsurviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo； she was ninety…nine； and hadwritten reams of good advice for more than half a century。
_For MILO BURROWS； hoping it will be useful； from B。B。；_ on a gold penand ink…bottle。 Milo never answered letters。
_For ANGELICA'S use； from Uncle Bilbo；_ on a round convex mirror。 She wasa young Baggins； and too obviously considered her face shapely。
_For the collection of HUGO BRACEGIRDLE； from a contributor；_ on an（empty） book…case。 Hugo was a great borrower of books； and worse than usual atreturning them。
_For LOBELIA SACKVILLE…BAGGINS； as a PRESENT；_ on a case of silverspoons。 Bilbo believed that she had acquired a good many of his spoons； whilehe was away on his former journey。 Lobelia knew that quite well。 When shearrived later in the day； she took the point at once； but she also took thespoons。
This is only a small selection of the assembled presents。 Bilbo'sresidence had got rather cluttered up with things in the course of his longlife。 It was a tendency of hobbit…holes to get cluttered up： for which thecustom of giving so many birthday…presents was largely responsible。 Not； ofcourse； that the birthday…presents were always _new；_ there were one or twoold _mathoms_ of forgotten uses that had circulated all around the district；
but Bilbo had usually given new presents； and kept those that he received。 Theold hole was now being cleared a little。
Every one of the various parting gifts had labels； written out personallyby Bilbo； and several had some point； or some joke。 But； of course； most ofthe things were given where they would be wanted and wele。 The poorerhobbits； and especially those of Bagshot Row； did very well。 Old Gaffer Gamgeegot two sacks of potatoes； a new spade； a woollen waistcoat； and a bottle ofointment for creaking joints。 Old Rory Brandybuck； in return for muchhospitality； got a dozen bottles of Old Winyards： a strong red wine from theSouthfarthing； and now quite mature； as it had been laid down by Bilbo'sfather。 Rory quite forgave Bilbo； and voted him a capital fellow after thefirst bottle。
There was plenty of everything left for Frodo。 And； of course； all thechief treasures； as well as the books； pictures； and more than enoughfurniture； were left in his possession。 There was； however； no sign normention of money or jewellery： not a penny…piece or a glass bead was givenaway。
Frodo had a very trying time that afternoon。 A false rumour that thewhole household was being distributed free spread like wildfire； and beforelong the place was packed with people who had no business there； but could notbe kept out。 Labels got torn off and mixed； and quarrels broke out。 Somepeople tried to do swaps and deals in the hall； and others tried to make _off_
with minor items not addressed to them； or with anything that seemed unwantedor unwatched。 The road to the gate was blocked with barrows and handcarts。
In the middle of the motion the Sackville…Bagginses arrived。 Frodo had
retired for a while and left his friend Merry Brandybuck to keep an eye on
things。 When Otho loudly demanded to see Frodo； Merry bowed politely。
'He is indisposed；' he said。 'He is resting。'
'Hiding； you mean；' said Lobelia。 'Anyway we want to see him and we meanto see him。 Just go and tell him so！'
Merry left them a long while in the hall； and they had time to discovertheir parting gift of spoons。 It did not improve their tempers。 Eventuallythey were shown into the study。 Frodo was sitting at a table with a lot ofpapers in front of him。 He looked indisposed – to see Sackville…Bagginses atany rate； and he stood up； fidgeting with something in his pocket。 But hespoke quite politely。
The Sackville…Bagginses were rather offensive。 They began by offeri