Page 208 - The Hobbit

Bofur, and Bombur! May your beards never grow thin!" And turning towards the

Mountain he added: "Farewell Thorin Oakenshield! And Fili and Kili! May your
memory never fade!"
Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate, but words stuck in their

throats. "Good-bye and good luck, wherever you fare!" said Balin at last. "If ever
you visit us again, when our halls are made fair once more, then the feast shall
indeed be splendid!"
"If ever you are passing my way," said Bilbo, "don't wait to knock! Tea is at

four; but any of you are welcome at any time!"
Then he turned away.
The elf-host was on the march;. and if it was sadly lessened, yet many were

glad, for now the northern world would be merrier for many a long day. The
dragon was dead, and the goblins overthrown, and their hearts looked forward
after winter to a spring of joy. Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and
beside them strode Beorn, once again in man's shape, and he laughed and sang in

a loud voice upon the road. So they went on until they drew near to the borders of
Mirkwood, to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out.
Then they halted, for the wizard and Bilbo would not enter the wood, even

though the king bade them stay a while in his halls. They intended to go along the
edge of the forest, and round its northern end in the waste that lay between it and
the beginning of the Grey Mountains. It was a long and cheerless road, but now
that the goblins were crushed, it seemed safer to them than the dreadful pathways

under the trees. Moreover Beorn was going that way too.
"Farewell! O Elvenking!" said Gandalf. "Merry be the greenwood, while the
world is yet young! And merry be all your folk!"
"Farewell! O Gandalf!" said the king. "May you ever appear where you are

most needed and least expected! The oftener you appear in my halls the better
shall I be pleased!"
"I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this
gift!" and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him

at their parting.
"In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit?" said the king.
"Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er,

some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. I mean even a burglar
has his feelings. I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread."