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they usually prefer； round windows andall as they like it。 I hope you'll be fortable。 You'll be wanting supper； Idon't doubt。 As soon as may be。 This way now！'
He led them a short way down a passage； and opened a door。 'Here is anice little parlour！' he said。 'I hope it will suit。 Excuse me now。 I'm thatbusy。 No time for talking。 I must be trotting。 It's hard work for two legs；
but I don't get thinner。 I'll look in again later。 If you want anything； ringthe hand…bell； and Nob will e。 If he don't e； ring and shout！'
Off he went at last； and left them feeling rather breathless。 He seemedcapable of an endless stream of talk； however busy he might be。 They foundthemselves in a small and cosy room。 There was a bit of bright fire burning onthe hearth； and in front of it were some low and fortable chairs。 There wasa round table； already spread with a white cloth； and on it was a large handbell。
But Nob； the hobbit servant； came bustling in long before they thoughtof ringing。 He brought candles and a tray full of plates。
'Will you be wanting anything to drink； masters？' he asked。 'And shall Ishow you the bedrooms； while your supper is got ready？'
They were washed and in the middle of good deep mugs of beer when Mr。
Butterbur and Nob came in again。 In a twinkling the table was laid。 There washot soup； cold meats； a blackberry tart； new loaves； slabs of butter； and halfa ripe cheese： good plain food； as good as the Shire could show； and homelikeenough to dispel the last of Sam's misgivings （already much relieved by theexcellence of the beer）。
The landlord hovered round for a link； and then prepared to leave them。
'I don't know whether you would care to join the pany； when you havesupped；' he said； standing at the door。 'Perhaps you would rather go to your
beds。 Still the pany would be very pleased to wele you_；_ if you had amind。 We don't get Outsiders – travellers from the Shire； I should say；
begging your pardon – often； and we like to hear a bit of news； or any storyor song you may have in mind。 But as you please！ Ring the bell； if you lackanything！'
So refreshed and encouraged did they feel at the end of their supper（about three quarters of an hour's steady going； not hindered by unnecessarytalk） that Frodo； Pippin； and Sam decided to join the pany。 Merry said itwould be too stuffy。 'I shall sit here quietly by the fire for a bit； andperhaps go out later for a sniff of the air。 Mind your Ps and Qs； and don'tforget that you are supposed to be escaping in secret； and are still _on_ thehigh…road and not very far from the Shire！'
'All right！' said Pippin。 'Mind yourself！ Don't get lost； and don'tforget that it is safer indoors！'
The pany was in the big mon…room of the inn。 The gathering waslarge and mixed； as Frodo discovered； when his eyes got used to the light。
This came chiefly from a blazing log…fire； for the three lamps hanging fromthe beams were dim； and half veiled in smoke。 Barliman Butterbur was standingnear the fire； talking to a couple of dwarves and one or two strange…lookingmen。 On the benches were various folk： men of Bree； a collection of localhobbits （sitting chattering together）； a few more dwarves； and other vaguefigures difficult to make out away in the shadows and ers。
As soon as the Shire…hobbits entered； there was a chorus of wele fromthe Bree…landers。 The strangers； especially those that had e up theGreenway； stared at them curiously。 The landlord introduced the newers tothe Bree…folk； so quickly that； though they caught many names； they wereseldom sure who the names belonged to。 The Men of Bree seemed all to haverather botanical （and to the Shire…folk rather odd） names； like Rushlight；
Goatleaf； Heathertoes； Appledore； Thistlewool and Ferny （not to mentionButterbur）。 Some of the hobbits had similar names。 The Mugworts； for instance；
seemed numerous。 But most of them had natural names； such as Banks；
Brockhouse； Longholes； Sandheaver； and Tunnelly； many of which were used inthe Shire。 There were several Underhills from Saddle； and as they could notimagine sharing a name without being related； they took Frodo to their heartsas a long…lost cousin。
The Bree…hobbits were； in fact； friendly and inquisitive； and Frodo soonfound that some explanation of what he was doing would have to be given。 Hegave out that he was interested in history and geography （at which there wasmuch wagging of heads； although neither of these words were much used in theBree…dialect）。 He said he was thinking of writing a book （at which there wassilent astonishment）； _and_ that he and his friends wanted to collectinformation about hobbits living outside the Shire； especially in the easternlands。
At this a chorus of voices broke out。 If Frodo had really wanted to writea book； and had had many ears； he would have learned enough for severalchapters in a few minutes。 And if that was not enough； he was given a wholelist of names； beginning with 'Old Barliman here'； to whom he could go forfurther information。 But after a time； as Frodo did not show any _sign_ ofwriting a book on the spot； the hobbits returned to their questions aboutdoings in the Shire。 Frodo did not prove very municative； and he soon foundhimself sitting alone in a er； listening and looking around。
The Men and Dwarves were mostly talking of distant events and tellingflews of a kind that was being only too familiar。 There was trouble away inthe South； and it seemed that the Men who had e up the Greenway were on themove； looking for lands where they could find some peace。 The Bree…folk weresympathetic； but plainly not very ready to take a large number of strangersinto their little land。 One of the travellers； a squint…eyed ill…favouredfellow； was foretelling that more and more people would be ing north in thenear future。 'If room isn't found for them； they'll find it for themselves。
They've a right to live； same as other folk；' he said loudly。 The localinhabitants did not look pleased at the prospect。
The hobbits did not pay much attention to all this； and it did not at themoment seem to concern hobbits。 Big Folk could hardly beg for lodgings inhobbit…holes。 They were more interested in Sam and Pippin； who were nowfeeling quite at home； and were chatting gaily about events in the Shire。
Pippin roused a good deal of laughter with an account of the collapse of theroof of the Town Hole in Michel Delving： Will Whitfoot； the Mayor； and thefattest hobbit in the Westfarthing； had been buried in chalk； and came outlike a floured dumpling。 But there were several questions asked that madeFrodo a little uneasy。 One of the Bree…landers； who seemed to have been in theShire several times； wanted to know where the Underhills lived and who theywere related to。
Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strange…looking weather…beaten man； sittingin the shadows near the wall； was also listening intently to the hobbit…talk。
He had a tall tankard in front of him； and was smoking a long…stemmed pipecuriously carved。 His legs were stretched out before him； showing high bootsof supple leather that fitted him well； but had seen much wear and were nowcaked with mud。 A travel…stained cloak of heavy dark…green cloth was drawnclose about him； and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood thatovershadowed his face； but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watchedthe hobbits。
'Who is that？' Frodo asked； when he got a chance to whisper to Mr。
Butterbur。 'I don't think you introduced him？'
'Him？' said the landlord in an answering whisper； cocking an eye withoutturning his head。 'I don't rightly know。 He is one of the wandering folk Rangers
we call them。 He seldom talks： not but what he can tell a rare talewhen he has the mind。 He disappears for a month； or a year； and then he popsup again。 He was in and out pretty often last spring； but I haven't seen himabout lately。 What his right name is I've never heard： but he's known roundhere as Strider。 Goes about at a great pace on his long shanks； though hedon't tell nobody what cause he has to hurry。 But there's no accounting forEast and West； as we say in Bree； meaning the Rangers and the Shire…folk；
begging your pardon。 Funny you should ask about him。' But at that moment Mr。
Butterbur was called away by a demand for more ale and his last remarkremained unexplained。
Frodo found that Strider was now looking at him； as if he had heard orguessed all that had been said。 Presently； with a wave of his hand and a nod；
he invited Frodo to e over and sit by him。 As Frodo drew near be threw backhis hood； showing a shaggy head of dark hair necked with grey； and in a palestem face a pair of keen grey eyes。
'I am called Strider；' he said in a low voice。 'I am very pleased to meetyou。 Master – Underhill； if old Butterbur got your name right。'
'He did；' said Frodo stiffly。 He felt far from fortable under thestare of those keen eyes。
'Well； Master Underhill；' said Strider； 'if I were you； I should stopyour young friends from talking too much。 Drink_；_ fire； and chance…meetingare pleasant enough； but； well – this isn't the Shire。 There are queer folkabout。 Though I say it as shouldn't； you may think；' he added with a wrysmile； seeing Frodo's glance。 'And there have been even stranger travellersthrough Bree lat