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f；　yet。'

'Don't　be　absurd！'　said　Gandalf。　'I　am　not　warning　you　against　leaving　an　address　at　the　postoffice！　But　you　are　leaving　the　Shire　。　and　that　should　not　be　known；　until　you　are　far　away。　And　you　must　go；　or　at　least　set　out；　either　North；　South；　West　or　East　。　and　the　direction　should　certainly　not　be　known。'

'I　have　been　so　taken　up　with　the　thoughts　of　leaving　Bag　End；　and　of　saying　farewell；　that　I　have　never　even　considered　the　direction；'　said　Frodo。　'For　where　am　I　to　go？　And　by　what　shall　I　steer？　What　is　to　be　my　quest？　Bilbo　went　to　find　a　treasure；　there　and　back　again；　but　I　go　to　lose　one；　and　not　return；　as　far　as　I　can　see。'

'But　you　cannot　see　very　far；'　said　Gandalf。　'Neither　can　I。　It　may　be　your　task　to　find　the　Cracks　of　Doom；　but　that　quest　may　be　for　others：　I　do　not　know。　At　any　rate　you　are　not　ready　for　that　long　road　yet。'

'No　indeed！'　said　Frodo。　'But　in　the　meantime　what　course　am　I　to　lake？'

'Towards　danger；　but　not　too　rashly；　nor　too　straight；'　answered　the　wizard。　'If　you　want　my　advice；　make　for　Rivendell。　That　journey　should　not　prove　too　perilous；　though　the　Road　is　less　easy　than　it　was；　and　it　will　grow　worse　as　the　year　fails。'

'Rivendell！'　said　Frodo。　'Very　good：　I　will　go　east；　and　I　will　make　for　Rivendell。　I　will　take　Sam　to　visit　the　Elves；　he　will　be　delighted。'　He　spoke　lightly；　but　his　heart　was　moved　suddenly　with　a　desire　to　see　the　house　of　Elrond　Halfelven；　and　breathe　the　air　of　that　deep　valley　where　many　of　the　Fair　Folk　still　dwelt　in　peace。

One　summer's　evening　an　astonishing　piece　of　news　reached　the　Ivy　Bush　and　Green　Dragon。　Giants　and　other　portents　on　the　borders　of　the　Shire　were　fotten　for　more　important　matters：　Mr。　Frodo　was　selling　Bag　End；　indeed　he　had　already　sold　it　。　to　the　SackvilleBagginses！

'For　a　nice　bit；　loo；'　said　some。　'At　a　bargain　price；'　said　others；　'and　that's　more　likely　when　Mistress　Lobelia's　the　buyer。'　（Otho　had　died　some　years　before；　at　the　ripe　but　disappointed　age　of　102。）

Just　why　Mr。　Frodo　was　selling　his　beautiful　hole　was　even　more　debatable　than　the　price。　A　few　held　the　theory　。　supported　by　the　nods　and　hints　of　Mr。　Baggins　himself　。　that　Frodo's　money　was　running　out：　he　was　going　to　leave　Hobbiton　and　live　in　a　quiet　way　on　the　proceeds　of　the　sale　down　in　Buckland　among　his　Brandybuck　relations。　'As　far　from　the　SackvilleBagginses　as　may　be；'　some　added。　But　so　firmly　fixed　had　the　notion　of　the　immeasurable　wealth　of　the　Bagginses　of　Bag　End　bee　that　most　found　this　hard　to　believe；　harder　than　any　other　reason　or　unreason　that　their　fancy　could　suggest：　to　most　it　suggested　a　dark　and　yet　unrevealed　plot　by　Gandalf。　Though　he　kept　himself　very　quiet　and　did　not　go　about　by　day；　it　was　well　known　that　he　was　'hiding　up　in　the　Bag　End'。　But　however　a　removal　might　fit　in　with　the　designs　of　his　wizardry；　there　was　no　doubt　about　the　fact：　Frodo　Baggins　was　going　back　to　Buckland。

'Yes；　I　shall　be　moving　this　autumn；'　he　said。　'Merry　Brandybuck　is　looking　out　for　a　nice　little　hole　for　me；　or　perhaps　a　small　house。'

As　a　matter　of　fact　with　Merry's　help　he　had　already　chosen　and　bought　a　little　house　at　Crickhollow　in　the　country　beyond　Bucklebury。　To　all　but　Sam　he　pretended　he　was　going　to　settle　down　there　permanently。　The　decision　to　set　out　eastwards　had　suggested　the　idea　to　him；　for　Buckland　was　on　the　eastern　borders　of　the　Shire；　and　as　he　had　lived　there　in　childhood　his　going　back　would　at　least　seem　credible。

Gandalf　stayed　in　the　Shire　for　over　two　months。　Then　one　evening；　at　the　end　of　June；　soon　after　Frodo's　plan　had　been　finally　arranged；　he　suddenly　announced　that　he　was　going　off　again　next　morning。　'Only　for　a　short　while；　I　hope；'　he　said。　'But　I　am　going　down　beyond　the　southern　borders　to　get　some　news；　if　I　can。　I　have　been　idle　longer　than　I　should。'

He　spoke　lightly；　but　it　seemed　to　Frodo　that　he　looked　rather　worried。　'Has　anything　happened？'　he　asked。

'Well　no；　but　I　have　heard　something　that　has　made　me　anxious　and　needs　looking　into。　If　I　think　it　necessary　after　all　for　you　to　get　off　at　once；　I　shall　e　back　immediately；　or　at　least　send　word。　In　the　meanwhile　stick　to　your　plan；　but　be　more　careful　than　ever；　especially　of　the　Ring。　Let　me　impress　on　you　once　more：　don't　use　it！'

He　went　off　at　dawn。　'I　may　be　back　any　day；'　he　said。　'At　the　very　latest　I　shall　e　back　for　the　farewell　party。　I　think　after　all　you　may　need　my　pany　on　the　Road。'

At　first　Frodo　was　a　good　deal　disturbed；　and　wondered　often　what　Gandalf　could　have　heard；　but　his　uneasiness　wore　off；　and　in　the　fine　weather　he　fot　his　troubles　for　a　while。　The　Shire　had　seldom　seen　so　fair　a　summer；　or　so　rich　an　autumn：　the　trees　were　laden　with　apples；　honey　was　dripping　in　the　bs；　and　the　corn　was　tall　and　full。

Autumn　was　well　under　way　before　Frodo　began　to　worry　about　Gandalf　again。　September　was　passing　and　there　was　still　no　news　of　him。　The　Birthday；　and　the　removal；　drew　nearer；　and　still　he　did　not　e；　or　send　word。　Bag　End　began　to　be　busy。　Some　of　Frodo's　friends　came　to　stay　and　help　him　with　the　packing：　there　was　Fredegar　Bolger　and　Folco　Boffin；　and　of　course　his　special　friends　Pippin　Took　and　Merry　Brandybuck。　Between　them　they　turned　the　whole　place　upsidedown。

On　September　20th　two　covered　carts　went　off　laden　to　Buckland；　conveying　the　furniture　and　goods　that　Frodo　had　not　sold　to　his　new　home；　by　way　of　the　Brandywine　Bridge。　The　next　day　Frodo　became　really　anxious；　and　kept　a　constant　lookout　for　Gandalf。　Thursday；　his　birthday　morning；　dawned　as　fair　and　clear　as　it　had　long　ago　for　Bilbo's　great　party。　Still　Gandalf　did　not　appear。　In　the　evening　Frodo　gave　his　fareall；　just　a　dinner　for　himself　and　his　four　helpers；　but　he　was　troubled　and　fell　in　no　mood　for　it。　The　thought　that　he　would　so　soon　have　to　part　with　his　young　friends　weighed　on　his　heart。　He　wondered　how　he　would　break　it　to　them。

The　four　younger　hobbits　were；　however；　in　high　spirits；　and　the　party　soon　became　very　cheerful　in　spite　of　Gandalf's　absence。　The　diningroom　was　bare　except　for　a　table　and　chairs；　but　the　food　was　good；　and　there　was　good　wine：　Frodo's　wine　had　not　been　included　in　the　sale　to　the　Sackville　Bagginses。

'Whatever　happens　to　the　rest　of　my　stuff；　when　the　S。B。s　get　their　claws　on　it；　at　any　rate　I　have　found　a　good　home　for　this！'　said　Frodo；　as　he　drained　his　glass。　It　was　the　last　drop　of　Old　Winyards。

When　they　had　sung　many　songs；　and　talked　of　many　things　they　had　done　together；　they　toasted　Bilbo's　birthday；　and　they　drank　his　health　and　Frodo's　together　according　to　Frodo's　custom。　Then　they　went　out　for　a　sniff　of　air；　and　glimpse　of　the　stars；　and　then　they　went　to　bed。　Frodo's　party　was　over；　and　Gandalf　had　not　e。

The　next　morning　they　were　busy　packing　another　cart　with　the　remainder　of　the　luggage。　Merry　took　charge　of　this；　and　drove　off　with　Fatty　（that　is　Fredegar　Bolger）。　'Someone　must　get　there　and　warm　the　house　before　you　arrive；'　said　Merry。　'Well；　see　you　later；　the　day　after　tomorrow；　if　you　don't　go　to　sleep　on　the　way！'

Folco　went　home　after　lunch；　but　Pippin　remained　behind。　Frodo　was　restless　and　anxious；　listening　in　vain　for　a　sound　of　Gandalf。　He　decided　to　wait　until　nightfall。　After　that；　if　Gandalf　wanted　him　urgently；　he　would　go　to　Crickhollow；　and　might　even　get　there　first。　For　Frodo　was　going　on　foot。　His　plan；　for　pleasure　and　a　last　look　at　the　Shire　as　much　as　any　other　reason；　was　to　walk　from　Hobbiton　to　Bucklebury　Ferry；　taking　it　fairly　easy。

'I　shall　get　myself　a　bit　into　training；　too；'　he　said；　looking　at　himself　in　a　dusty　mirror　in　the　halfempty　hall。　He　had　not　done　any　strenuous　walking　for　a　long　time；　and　the　reflection　looked　rather　flabby；　he　thought。

After　lunch；　the　SackvilleBagginses；　Lobelia　and　her　sandyhaired　son；　Lotho；　turned　up；　much　to　Frodo's　annoyance。　'Ours　at　last！'　said　Lobelia；　as　she　stepped　inside。　It　was　not　polite；　nor　strictly　true；　for　the　sale　of　Bag　End　did　not　take　effect　until　midnight。　But　Lobelia　can　perhaps　be　fiven：　she　had　been　obliged　to　wait　about　seventyseven　years　longer　for　Bag　End　than　she　once　hoped；　and　she　was　now　a　hundred　years　old。　Anyway；　she