The return of Mr Bilbo Baggins created quite a disturbance, both under the Hill and over the Hill, and across the Water. It was quite a long time before Mr Baggins was admitted to be alive again.

In the end to save time Bilbo had to buy back quite a lot of his own furniture. Many of his silver spoons mysteriously disappeared. Personally he suspected his cousins. On their side they never admitted that the returned Baggins was genuine, and they were not on friendly terms with Bilbo ever after. They really had wanted to live in his nice hobbit-hole so very much.

Indeed Bilbo found he had lost more than spoons – he had lost his reputation. It is true that for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour of dwarves, wizards; but he was no longer quite respectable. I am sorry to say he did not mind. He was quite content. His sword he hung over the mantelpiece. His coat of mail [128] was on a stand in the hall. His gold and silver was largely spent in presents. His magic ring he kept a great secret, for he used it when unpleasant visitors came. He started writing poetry and visiting the elves; and he remained very happy to the end of his days.

One autumn evening some years afterwards Bilbo was sitting in his study writing his memoirs – he thought of calling them “There and Back Again, a Hobbit’s Holiday” – when there was a ring at the door. It was Gandalf and Balin.

“Come in! Come in!” said Bilbo, and soon they were sitting in chairs by the fire. Bilbo asked how things were going in the lands of the Mountain. It seemed they were going very well. Bard had rebuilt the town in Dale and men had gathered to him from the Lake and from South and West, and the entire valley had become rich. And Lake-town was more prosperous than ever; and there was friendship in those parts between elves and dwarves and men.

adj – adjective

adv – adverb

conj – conjunction

n – noun

p. p. – past participle

phr.v. – phrasal verb

prep – preposition

pron – pronoun

v – verb

амер. – американизм

бот. – ботанический термин

зоол. – зоологический термин

книжн. – книжный стиль

лит. – литературный стиль

разг. – разговорный стиль

absurd adj абсурдный, нелепый

accuse v обвинять

ache v болеть

adventure n приключение

advice n совет

advise v советовать

affair n дело

afloat adv на плаву

afterwards adv впоследствии

agree v соглашаться

aground adv на мели; run – садиться на мель

aid n помощь

ale n эль

alive adj живой

all over целиком

alone 1) adj один, одинокий;

2) adv только, исключительно

aloud adv вслух

although conj хотя

amid prep среди, посреди

among prep среди

amusing adj забавный

ancestor n предок

ancient adj древний

annoy v раздражать

annoyed adj раздраженный