reath of sweet air movedthe curtain。 He breathed deep and fell asleep again。
As far as he could remember； Sam slept through the night in deep content；
if logs are contented。
They woke up； all four at once； in the morning light。 Tom was movingabout the room whistling like a starling。 When he heard them stir he clappedhis hands； and cried： 'Hey！ e merry dol！ derry dol！ My hearties！' He drewback the yellow curtains； and the hobbits saw that these had covered thewindows； at either end of the room； one looking east and the other lookingwest。
They leapt up refreshed。 Frodo ran to the eastern window； and foundhimself looking into a kitchen…garden grey with dew。 He had half expected tosee turf right up to the walls； turf all pocked with hoof…prints。 Actually hisview was screened by a tall line of beans on poles； but above and far beyondthem the grey top of the hill loomed up against the sunrise。 It was a palemorning： in the East； behind long clouds like lines of soiled wool stained redat the edges； lay glimmering deeps of yellow。 The sky spoke of rain to e；
but the light was broadening quickly； and the red flowers on the beans beganto glow against the wet green leaves。
Pippin looked out of the western window； down into a pool of mist。 TheForest was hidden under a fog。 It was like looking down on to a sloping cloud…
roof from above。 There was a fold or channel where the mist was broken into
many plumes and billows； the valley of the Withywindle。 The stream ran downthe hill on the left and vanished into the white shadows。 Near at hand was a
flower…garden and a clipped hedge silver…netted； and beyond that grey shavengrass pale with dew…drops。 There was no willow…tree to be seen。
'Good morning； merry friends！' cried Tom； opening the eastern windowwide。 A cool air flowed in； it had a rainy smell。 'Sun won't show her facemuch today。 I'm thinking。 I have been walking wide； leaping on the hilltops；
since the grey dawn began； nosing wind and weather； wet grass underfoot； wetsky above me。 I wakened Goldberry singing under window； but nought wakeshobbit…folk in the early morning。 In the night little folk wake up in thedarkness； and sleep after light has e！ Ring a ding dillo！ Wake now； mymerry friends！ Forget the nightly noises！ Ring a ding dillo del！ derry del； myhearties！ If you e soon you'll find breakfast on the table。 If you e
late you'll get grass and rain…water！'
Needless to say – not that Tom's threat sounded very serious – thehobbits came soon； and left the table late and only when it was beginning lolook rather empty。 Neither Tom nor Goldberry were there。 Tom could be heardabout the house； clattering in the kitchen； and up and down the stairs； andsinging here and there outside。 The room looked westward over the mist…cloudedvalley； and the window was open。 Water dripped down from the thatched eavesabove。 Before they had finished breakfast the clouds had joined into anunbroken roof； and a straight grey rain came softly and steadily down。 Behindits deep curtain the Forest was pletely veiled。
As they looked out of the window there came falling gently as if it wasflowing down the rain out of the sky； the clear voice of Goldberry singing upabove them。 They could hear few words； but it seemed plain to them that thesong was a rain…song； as sweet as showers on dry hills； that told the tale ofa river from the spring in the highlands to the Sea far below。 The hobbitslistened with delight； and Frodo was glad in his heart； and blessed the kindlyweather； because it delayed them from departing。 The thought of going had beenheavy upon him from the moment he awoke； but he guessed now that they wouldnot go further that day。
The upper wind settled in the West and deeper and wetter clouds rolled upto spill their laden rain on the bare heads of the Downs。 Nothing could beseen all round the house but falling water。 Frodo stood near the open door andwatched the white chalky path turn into a little river of milk and go bubblingaway down into the valley。 Tom Bombadil came trotting round the corner of thehouse； waving his arms as if he was warding off the rain – and indeed when hesprang over the threshold he seemed quite dry； except for his boots。 These hetook off and put in the chimney…corner。 Then he sat in the largest chair andcalled the hobbits to gather round him。
'This is Goldberry's washing day；' he said； 'and her autumn…cleaning。 Toowet for hobbit…folk – let them rest while they are able！ It's a good day forlong tales； for questions and for answers； so Tom will start the talking。'
He then told them many remarkable stories； sometimes half as if speakingto himself； sometimes looking at them suddenly with a bright blue eye underhis deep brows。 Often his voice would turn to song； and he would get out ofhis chair and dance about。 He told them tales of bees and flowers； the ways oftrees； and the strange creatures of the Forest； about the evil things and goodthings； things friendly and things unfriendly； cruel things and kind things；
and secrets hidden under brambles。
As they listened； they began to understand the lives of the Forest； apartfrom themselves； indeed to feel themselves as the strangers where all otherthings were at home。 Moving constantly in and out of his talk was Old ManWillow； and Frodo learned now enough to content him； indeed more than enough；
for it was not fortable lore。 Tom's words laid bare the hearts of trees and
their thoughts； which were often dark and strange； and filled with a hatred ofthings that go free upon the earth； gnawing； biting； breaking； hacking；
burning： destroyers and usurpers。 It was not called the Old Forest withoutreason； for it was indeed ancient； a survivor of vast forgotten woods； and init there lived yet； ageing no quicker than the hills； the fathers of thefathers of trees； remembering times when they were lords。 The countless yearshad filled them with pride and rooted wisdom； and with malice。 But none weremore dangerous than the Great Willow： his heart was rotten； but his strengthwas green； and he was cunning； and a master of winds； and his song and thoughtran through the woods on both sides of the river。 His grey thirsty spirit drewpower out of the earth and spread like fine root…threads in the ground； andinvisible twig…fingers in the air； till it had under its dominion nearly allthe trees of the Forest from the Hedge to the Downs。
Suddenly Tom's talk left the woods and went leaping up the young stream；
over bubbling waterfalls； over pebbles and worn rocks； and among small flowersin close grass and wet crannies； wandering at last up on to the Downs。 Theyheard of the Great Barrows； and the green mounds； and the stone…rings upon the
hills and in the hollows among the hills。 Sheep were bleating in flocks。 Greenwalls and white walls rose。 There were fortresses on the heights。 Kings oflittle kingdoms fought together； and the young Sun shone like fire on the redmetal of their new and greedy swords。 There was victory and defeat； and towersfell； fortresses were burned； and flames went up into the sky。 Gold was piledon the biers of dead kings and queens； and mounds covered them； and the stonedoors were shut； and the grass grew over all。 Sheep walked for a while