You have noticed already that Mr. Baggins was not quite so prosy as he liked to believe, also that he was very fond of flowers.

“Dear me!” he went on. “Not the Gandalf who was responsible for so many quiet lads and lasses going off into the Blue for mad adventures. Anything from climbing trees to visiting Elves — or sailing in ships, sailing to other shores! Bless me, life used to be quite inter — I mean, you used to upset things badly in these parts once upon a time. I beg your pardon, but I had no idea you were still in business. ”

“Where else should I be?” said the wizard. “All the same I am pleased to find you remember something about me. You seem to remember my fireworks kindly, at any rate, land that is not without hope. Indeed for your old grand-father Took’s sake, and for the sake of poor Belladonna, I will give you what you asked for. ”

“I beg your pardon (прошу прощения), I haven’t asked for anything (я ни о чем не просил)!”

“Yes, you have (да, просили)! Twice now (теперь уже дважды). My pardon (моего прощения). I give it you (я даю его вам). In fact (на самом деле) I will go so far as to send you on this adventure (я даже пойду дальше, и отправлю вас на это приключение). Very amusing for me (очень забавное /приключение/ для меня), very good for you (очень хорошее для вас) and profitable too (и очень прибыльное, к тому же), very likely (очень вероятно), if you ever get over it (если только вы доберетесь до его конца; togetover—закончить, разделаться). ”

“Sorry (извините)! I don’t want any adventures, thank you (я не хочу никаких приключений, благодарю). Not today (не сегодня). Good morning (доброго утра)! But please come to tea (но, будьте добры, заходите к чаю) — any time you like (в любое время, какое вы захотите)! Why not tomorrow (почему бы и не завтра)? Come tomorrow (приходите завтра)! Good-bye (до свидания)!”

twice [twaɪs] pardon [ˈpɑ: dn] profitable [ˈprɔfɪtǝb (ǝ) l]

“I beg your pardon, I haven’t asked for anything!”

“Yes, you have! Twice now. My pardon. I give it you. In fact I will go so far as to send you on this adventure. Very amusing for me, very good for you and profitable too, very likely, if you ever get over it. ”

“Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Good morning! But please come to tea — any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Come tomorrow! Good-bye!”

With that the hobbit turned (на этом хоббит повернулся) and scuttled inside his round green door (и поспешно скрылся за своей круглой зеленой дверью; inside — внутрь), and shut it (и закрыл ее) as quickly as he dared (так быстро, как он только посмел), not to be seen rude (чтобы не выглядеть грубым). Wizards after all are wizards (волшебники, в конце-то концов, все же волшебники).

“What on earth did I ask him to tea for (чего это ради я позвал его к чаю; earth — земля; мир)!” he said to himself (сказал он сам себе), as he went to the pantry (когда он отправился в кладовку). He had only just had breakfast (он только что позавтракал), but he thought a cake or two and a drink of something (но он подумал, что один или два кекса и какой-нибудь напиток) would do him good (пойдут ему на пользу) after his fright (после /его/ такого испуга). Gandalf in the meantime (Гэндальф тем временем) was still standing outside the door (все еще стоял за дверью снаружи), and laughing long but quietly (и долго, но спокойно, смеялся). After a while he stepped up (спустя некоторое время он сделал шаг вперед), and with the spike of his staff (и острием своего посоха) scratched a queer sign (нацарапал странный знак) on the hobbit’s beautiful green front-door (на красивой зеленой входной двери /дома/ хоббита). Then he strode away (затем он ушел большими шагами; to stride — шагать /большими шагами/), just about the time (как раз в то самое время) when Bilbo was finishing his second cake (когда Бильбо доедал: «заканчивал» свой второй кекс) and beginning to think (и начинал думать) that he had escape adventures very well (что он очень удачно избежал приключений).

pantry [ˈpæntrɪ] fright [fraɪt] laughing [ˈlɑ: fɪŋ] staff [stɑ: f]

With that the hobbit turned and scuttled inside his round green door, and shut it as quickly as he dared, not to seen rude. Wizards after all are wizards.

What on earth did I ask him to tea for!” he said to himself, as he went to the pantry. He had only just had breakfast, but he thought a cake or two and a drink of something would do him good after his fright. Gandalf in the meantime was still standing outside the door, and laughing long but quietly. After a while he stepped up, and with the spike of his staff scratched a queer sign on the hobbit’s beautiful green front-door. Then he strode away, just about the time when Bilbo was finishing his second cake and beginning to think that he had escape adventures very well.

The next day (на следующий день) he had almost forgotten about Gandalf (он почти что забыл о Гэндальфе). He did not remember things very well (он не очень-то хорошо /обычно/ запоминал вещи), unless he put them down (если он только не записывал их) on his Engagement Tablet (в свою записную книжку для встреч) like this (подобно этому): Gandalf, tea, Wednesday (Гэндальф, чай, среда). Yesterday he had been too flustered (вчера он был слишком взволнован) to do anything of the kind (чтобы сделать что-нибудь подобное). Just before tea — time (как раз перед самым временем вечернего чая) there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell (раздался оглушительный звонок дверного колокольчика; tremendous — жуткий, страшный, ужасный), and then he remembered (и тогда-то он вспомнил)! He rushed and put on the kettle (он кинулся и поставил /на огонь/ чайник), and put out another cup and saucer (и поставил /на стол/ еще одну чашку и блюдце) and an extra cake or two (и один или два /дополнительных/ кексов), and ran to the door (и побежал к двери).

“I am so sorry to keep you waiting (извините, что заставил вас ждать)!” he was going to say (собирался сказать он), when he saw that it was not Gandalf at all (когда он увидел, что это был совсем и не Гэндальф).

engagement [ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmǝnt] flustered [ˈflʌstǝd] tremendous [trɪˈmendǝs]

The next day he had almost forgotten about Gandalf. He did not remember things very well, unless he put them down on his Engagement Tablet like this: Gandalf tea Wednesday. Yesterday he had been too flustered to do anything of the kind. Just before tea-time there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell, and then he remembered! He rushed and put on the kettle, and put out another cup and saucer and an extra cake or two, and ran to the door.