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'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 shinetomorrow； and it would be a glad morning； and setting out would be hopeful。
But they would do well to start early； for weather in that country was a thingthat even Tom could not be sure of for long； and it would change sometimesquicker than he could change his jacket。 'I am no weather…master；' he said；
'nor is aught that goes on two legs。'
By his advice they decided to make nearly due North from his house； overthe western and lower slopes of the Downs： they might hope in that way tostrike the East Road in a day's journey； and avoid the Barrows。 He told themnot to be afraid – but to mind their own business。
'Keep to the green grass。 Don't you go a…meddling with old stone or coldWights or prying in their houses； unless you be strong folk with hearts thatnever falter！' He said this more than once； and he advised them to passbarrows by on the west…side； if they chanced to stray near one。 Then he taughtthem a rhyme to sing； if they should by ill…luck fall into any danger ordifficulty the next day。
Ho！ Tom Bombadil； Tom Bombadillo！
By water； wood and hill； by the reed and willow；
By fire； sun and moon； harken now and hear us！
e； Tom Bombadil； for our need is near us！
When they had sung this altogether after him； he clapped them each on theshoulder with a laugh； and taking candles led them back to their bedroom。
_Chapter 8_
Fog on the Barrow…Downs
That night they heard no noises。 But either in his dreams or out of them；
he could not tell which； Frodo heard a sweet singing running in his mind； asong that seemed to e like a pale light behind a grey rain…curtain； andgrowing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver； until at last itwas rolled back； and a far green country opened before him under a swiftsunrise。
The vision melted into waking； and there was Tom whistling like a tree…
full of birds； and the sun was already slanting down the hill and through theopen window。 Outside everything was green and pale gold。
After breakfast； which they again ate alone； they made ready to sayfarewell； as nearly heavy of heart as was possible on such a morning： cool；
bright； and clean under a washed autumn sky of thin blue。 The air came freshfrom the North…west。 Their quiet ponies were almost frisky； sniffing andmoving restlessly。 Tom came out of the house and waved his hat and danced uponthe doorstep； bidding the hobbits to get up and be off and go with good speed。
They rode off along a path that wound away from behind the house； andwent slanting up towards the north end of the hill…brow under which itsheltered。 They had just dismounted to lead their ponies up the last steepslope； when suddenly Frodo stopped。
'Goldberry！' he cried。 'My fair lady； clad all in silver green！ We havenever said farewell to her； nor seen her since the evening！' He was sodistressed that he turned back； but at that moment a clear call came ripplingdown。 There on the hill…brow she stood beckoning to them： her hair was flyingloose； and as it caught the sun it shone and shimmered。 A light like the glintof water on dewy grass flashed from under her feet as s