folding in a moment； and their shining branchesdropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits； disappearing with asweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces。 There werefountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees； there werepillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles； or sailing ships；
or a phalanx of flying swans； there was a red thunderstorm and a shower ofyellow rain； there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into theair with a yell like an embattled army； and came down again into the Waterwith a hiss like a hundred hot snakes。 And there was also one last surprise；
in honour of Bilbo； and it startled the hobbits exceedingly； as Gandalfintended。 The lights went out。 A great smoke went up。 It shaped itself like amountain seen in the distance； and began to glow at the summit。 It spoutedgreen and scarlet flames。 Out flew a red…golden dragon – not life…size； butterribly life…like： fire came from his jaws； his eyes glared down； there was aroar； and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd。 They all ducked；
and many fell flat on their faces。 The dragon passed like an express train；
turned a somersault； and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion。
'That is the signal for supper！' said Bilbo。 The pain and alarm vanishedat once； and the prostrate hobbits leaped to their feet。 There was a splendidsupper for everyone； for everyone； that is； except those invited to the
special family dinner…party。 This was held in the great pavilion with thetree。 The invitations were limited to twelve dozen （a number also called bythe hobbits one Gross； though the word was not considered proper to use ofpeople）； and the guests were selected from all the families to which Bilbo andFrodo were related； with the addition of a few special unrelated friends （suchas Gandalf）。 Many young hobbits were included； and present by parentalpermission； for hobbits were easy…going with their children in the matter ofsitting up late； especially when there was a chance of getting them a freemeal。 Bringing up young hobbits took a lot of provender。
There were many Bagginses and Boffins； and also many Tooks andBrandybucks； there were various Grubbs （relations of Bilbo Baggins'grandmother）； and various Chubbs （connexions of his Took grandfather）； and aselection of Burrowses； Bolgers； Bracegirdles； Brockhouses； Goodbodies；
Hornblowers and Proudfoots。 Some of these were only very distantly connectedwith Bilbo； and some of them had hardly ever been in Hobbiton before； as theylived in remote corners of the Shire。 The Sackville…Bagginses were notforgotten。 Otho and his wife Lobelia were present。 They disliked Bilbo anddetested Frodo； but so magnificent was the invitation card； written in goldenink； that they had felt it was impossible to refuse。 Besides； their cousin；
Bilbo； had been specializing in food for many years and his table had a highreputation。
All the one hundred and forty…four guests expected a pleasant feast；
though they rather dreaded the after…dinner speech of their host （aninevitable item）。 He was liable to drag in bits of what he called poetry； andsometimes； after a glass or two； would allude to the absurd adventures of hismysterious journey。 The guests were not disappointed： they had a _very_
pleasant feast； in fact an engrossing entertainment： rich； abundant； varied；
and prolonged。 The purchase of provisions fell almost to nothing throughoutthe district in the ensuing weeks； but as Bilbo's catering had depleted thestocks of most stores； cellars and warehouses for miles around； that did notmatter much。
After the feast （more or less） came the Speech。 Most of the pany were；
however； now in a tolerant mood； at that delightful stage which they called'filling up the corners'。 They were sipping their favourite drinks； andnibbling at their favourite dainties； and their fears were forgotten。 Theywere prepared to listen to anything； and to cheer at every full stop。
_My dear People；_ began Bilbo； rising in his place。 'Hear！ Hear！ Hear！'
they shouted； and kept on repeating it in chorus； seeming reluctant to followtheir own advice。 Bilbo left his place and went and stood on a chair under theilluminated tree。 The light of the lanterns fell on his beaming face； thegolden buttons shone on his embroidered silk waistcoat。 They could all see himstanding； waving one hand in the air； the other was in his trouser…pocket。
_My dear Bagginses and Boffins；_ he began again； _and my dear Tooks andBrandybucks； and Grubbs； and Chubbs； and Burrowses； and Hornblowers； andBolgers； Bracegirdles； Goodbodies； Brockhouses and Proudfoots。_ 'ProudFEET！'
shouted an elderly hobbit from the back of the pavilion。 His name； of course；
was Proudfoot； and well merited； his feet were large； exceptionally furry； andboth were on the table。
_Proudfoots；_ repeated Bilbo。 _Also my good Sackville…Bagginses that Iwele back at last to Bag End。 Today is my one hundred and eleventhbirthday： I am eleventy…one today！_ 'Hurray！ Hurray！ Many Happy Returns！' theyshouted； and they hammered joyously on the tables。 Bilbo was doing splendidly。
This was the sort of stuff they liked： short and obvious。
_I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am。_ Deafeningcheers。 Cries of _Yes_ （and _No）。_ Noises of trumpets and horns； pipes andflutes； and other musical instruments。 There were； as has been said； manyyoung hobbits present。 Hundreds of musical crackers had been pulled。 Most ofthem bore the mark DALE on them； which did not convey much to most of thehobbits； but they all agreed they were marvellous crackers。 They containedinstruments； small； but of perfect make and enchanting tones。 Indeed； in one
corner some of the young Tooks and Brandybucks； supposing Uncle Bilbo to havefinished （since he had plainly said all that was necessary）； now got up animpromptu orchestra； and began a merry dance…tune。 Master Everard Took andMiss Melilot Brandybuck got on a table and with bells in their hands began todance the Springle…ring： a pretty dance； but rather vigorous。
But Bilbo had not finished。 Seizing a horn from a youngster near by； heblew three loud hoots。 The noise subsided。 _I shall not keep you long；_ hecried。 Cheers from all the assembly。 _I have called you all together for aPurpose。_ Something in the way that he said this made an impression。 There wasalmost silence； and one or two of the Tooks pricked up their ears。
_Indeed； for Three Purposes！ First of all； to tell you that I amimmensely fond of you all； and that eleventy…one years is too short a time tolive among such excellent and admirable hobbits。_ Tremendous outburst ofapproval。
_I don't know half of you half as well as I should like； and I like lessthan half of you half as well as you deserve。_ This was unexpected and ratherdifficult。 There was some scattered clapping； but most of them were trying towork it out and see if it came to a pliment。
_Secondly； to celebrate my birthday。_ Cheers again。 _I should say： OURbirthday。 For it is； of course； also the birthday of my heir and nephew；
Frodo。 He es of age and into his inheritance today。_ Some perfunctoryclapping by the elders； and some loud shouts of 'Frodo！ Frodo！ Jolly