little gentleman

Another Monday, at the second breakfast at Bag End, Bilbo, sitting at the head of the table, wiped his mouth with a napkin and announced to everyone: "Today's dinner is going to be richer, and a guest is visiting Bag End." Bottom hole."

Pippin shrieked: "Aragorn is coming? Frodo, you little wretch! You are keeping it from us! Wow! The King is coming!"

Frodo was puzzled: "He didn't say he was coming? At least I haven't heard anything."

"No, not Aragorn," said Bilbo, taking out a letter, "I have never seen this man. His name is Rosso Sackville Baggins, and he got it from somewhere a few years ago." A legal paper has arrived, proving that he is my legal heir, so that if I die he can drive Frodo out of Bag End."

"My God! It's that fellow!" screamed Pippin, in another way altogether. "Don't let him come!"

Sam said angrily: "I heard that Lothor has been working for Thranduil, the elf king of the Dark Forest, and his life is better than every hobbit. Why does he come back to snatch Mr. Frodo?" What about property?"

"That's how rich people pile up, Sam," said Bilbo, raising his eyebrows. "They value every penny, that's why they're rich, and then they can't lose a penny. "

Mei Li asked: "What did he say in the letter? Why did he choose this time to come back?" Rosso has never been to Shire since he was born, and it is impossible for him to suddenly feel nostalgic for the land of his ancestors, so the purpose of his return may be Only one—to inspect his future estate.

"He said," Bilbo cleared his throat, "that he was flattered to have all my fortune at my death, and deeply troubled that my 'lovely nephews' would be left alone."

"Hypocritical!" Sam pouted in disgust.

Merry could hear something wrong. "Did he say 'nephews'? What did he mean? Do you have two nephews?"

"No, I'm richer than you think, Merry," said Bilbo, "and listen on: 'To make up for my nephew's misfortune, I will choose one of my four cousins ​​to be my companion for life. Sit back and watch the suffering of others, although this act of righteousness is helpless, but I will definitely do it with joy, regard the chosen person as the love of my heart, and live up to my life.'”

"Four? Where did you get four nephews?" The other four exclaimed in surprise.

Bilbo glanced over them, and said slowly, "Aren't all four sitting in front of me?"

"What?" said Frodo, dumbfounded. "Why are they your nephews, too?"

Bilbo explained: "Rosso has never been to the Shire. He only gets information from other people, and the information is usually distorted when it travels so far, so he always thought I adopted you four."

"It's ridiculous! My last name is not Baggins at all!" Merry thought it was funny.

"No, your name is Baggins now, Merry," said Bilbo suddenly, bluffing, "and you mustn't let it slip when that Sackville Baggins bastard is here!"

"What do you want to do?" Merry was shocked.

"I'm going to teach him a lesson and let him know that I'm not dead yet!" said Bilbo, shaking his fists. "As for you four, you'll call yourself my 'poor nephews' from now on, remember that." !"

The four young hobbits stared and buried their faces in their plates in rapid succession.

Rosso Seckwell Baggins set off after sending the letter. He is one of the few hobbits living outside the world, but the difference is that he did not leave his hometown on his own. His parents left the Shire at an early age. Going out to make a living, and then settled abroad, Rosso himself was born in the land of the elves.Rosso was still young, he had a good job, and he thought he was personable, so he was inevitably arrogant and stupid.On the way to the Shire, Rosso had thought up several sets of compliments and clever witticisms for different situations, and he thought he was ready to deal with the eccentric Mr. Bilbo Baggins.

The green mountains and green waters of the Shire make Rosso feel comfortable, and the simple and comfortable life of the hobbits is as beautiful as idyllic.Rosso likes it here, but he doesn't envy it. He always thinks that his achievements are unmatched by other hobbits.

Bilbo Baggins was very difficult to deal with, and Rosso spent a lot of trouble and said a lot of good things before finally being allowed to come and visit Bilbo. Considering that he had already obtained the inheritance right of Bag End, Rosso graciously forgave Bilbo narrow behavior.Rosso thinks that the good deeds he will do will surely impress the stubborn Bilbo, and he will choose one of the four young people adopted by Bilbo as a companion, which is the best compensation for the four of them not being able to obtain property. Not to doubt one's actions is a selfless sacrifice.

The ponies gallop briskly on the bagside road, and hobbit holes pass by the side of the road. The colorful round gates add a lot of fairy tale color to this paradise.Rosso sat in the carriage, watching the scenery comfortably, and from time to time, he cast a smile that he thought was kind and amiable to the hobbits who were working or walking.

At the gate of Bag End, Bilbo and four young hobbits were already waiting outside the fence to welcome this guest from afar.

Rosso got down from the carriage, and said in a tone that was deliberately warm but not too much: "It's a pleasure to meet you, dear Bilbo! You are more hearty and fatter than I thought!"

Bilbo would have found it helpful if someone else had said it, but Rosso was too hypocritical: "Thank you, Rosso, unfortunately I've lost some weight lately due to some troublesome things, but Still thanks for your compliment." Bilbo gave Rosso a quick look, the yellow-haired young hobbit who looked like his mother, Robelia Seckwell Baggins, and had the same nasty eyes.

"Let me introduce you," said Bilbo, introducing the four young hobbits behind him, "this is my nephew Frodo, the oldest of the four; this is Sam, who is very good at gardening; these two The younger ones are Merry and Pippin, and they are better when they keep their mouths shut than when they open them," he said, casting a glare at the two silent hobbits.

Rosso then enjoyed delicious tea at Bag End, where he raved about Bilbo's dill cake.But what he appreciated more was the comfort of Bag End. He visited every room, and even secretly measured the dimensions with his feet, planning how to make good use of the house in the future when it came under his name.

As a "wanderer" returning from the vast outside world, Rosso is very happy to tell stories about the outside world to his cousins ​​who have never seen the world. Described the magnificent throne in Thranduil's palace to the four people whose eyes were already glazed over, without missing a single gemstone or pattern on it.Then Rosso picked up a book on morality--one of the few non-story books in Bilbo's collection--and read it to his cousins, which he said was the activity of decent people .Because of Bilbo's instructions in advance, the four of them listened to Rosso's long speech with great vigor.

The first one who couldn't help it was Pippin, who suddenly interjected when Rosso's words came to an end: "Guys, I'm going to go to the town for a walk and visit my aunt by the way, do you want to go together?"

The others immediately exclaimed to make Pippin shut up, but it was too late, Rosso had already closed the book angrily: "I don't blame my young cousin for being ignorant, although these books are written for them, but young People don't always want to read carefully."

Bilbo hastened to smooth things over: "My dear Rosso, don't blame this ignorant little Pippin, whose stupidity is famous in Hobbiton. But I have to say a few words for them: your knowledge is too much. Sophistication, it is not comparable to these silly boys, I am afraid I can only beg you to tolerate their ignorance. These children only know how to play, they want to go to the town to find elves to play, why don't you go with them, use your To guide them with extensive knowledge and experience, lest these little fools should embarrass the hobbit."

Rosso was very satisfied with this arrangement, and the unhappiness of being interrupted just now disappeared. He was looking for an opportunity to increase contact with the four cousins, so he immediately agreed: "I am very honored to be able to accompany the four lovely cousins!"

While the four young men were leaving the restaurant, Rosso expressed his feelings to Bilbo: "Mr. Bilbo, the four cousins ​​are as deeply in my heart as I imagined, especially the hardworking and capable Sam."

Bilbo, who was drinking his last cup of tea, said hastily, "I'm very sorry, Rosso, but it doesn't matter if you've got your eye on any of the others, I don't hear they're any definite match. But Sam, I hear The news is very credible: he is almost engaged."

So Rosso immediately changed his target, turning from Sam to Merry almost immediately: "It's a pity! But fortunately, cousin Merry is also smart enough, although he doesn't talk much."

He just doesn't talk to you much!Bilbo smiled to himself.

So when they were about to leave for the town, Rosso called out to Meili, "Cousin Meili, would you like to go with me?"

Merry looked at the smiling Losso in surprise, and at Bilbo in panic, who was not looking at him, as if indifferent to what was going on.

It wasn't until Rosso asked the second time that Meri finally realized that the idiot had called the wrong name, and that Rosso was indeed talking to him.In desperation, Meri could only agree, and walked side by side with Rosso feeling uncomfortable all over.

Bilbo was last, and his heart was full of joy.

Coming to the town soon, several young people could not wait to search for the figure of the elf, only Merry lowered his head uncharacteristically.

"Hi! How are you, little ones!" A familiar elf first spotted them, and beside this elf was a man in a cloak, whose face was covered by a hood.

Several hobbits ran up to the elf, and asked him happily and curiously who his friends were.

The elf solemnly introduced to them: "This is the son of King Thranduil, that is, the prince of our Dark Forest——Legolas."

The cloaked man took off his hood, and a cascade of dazzling blond hair seemed to illuminate the entire street like a light.

Bilbo's eyes could not be taken away: no words he knew could describe the beauty of the elf before him any more than a ruler could measure the breadth of the earth.This feeling is indescribable. What is too beautiful arouses not only liking or admiration, but a shock that makes people forget to breathe.

At the same time, Legolas looked at Bilbo. The elf's pure and sad blue eyes were like a pair of clear gems.

A sound of hoofbeats interrupted the chatter of the crowd. Aragorn on a tall horse and Thorin on a pony came.Legolas subconsciously looked at the two riders, and when his eyes met Thorin's, they both changed their faces at the same time, one pale and the other red.

"We are going to Bag End to see you, Frodo," said Aragorn to Frodo, dismounting from his horse. "Have you recovered well?"

Frodo's cheeks were flushed, but his tone was lively and cheerful: "I am all right, thank you, Aragorn... er, Your Majesty." He realized that he could not speak casually in public.

"Don't use that hard name," said Aragorn, "I don't want to hear it from you."

Frodo smiled shyly.After the two talked a few more words, Aragorn bid farewell to the hobbits and got on his horse gracefully.

Thorin didn't say a word. He gave Legolas one last look, and Legolas touched his chest lightly with his right hand in a cursory gesture.