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Gandalf stayed in the Shire for over two months。 Then one evening； at theend of June； soon after Frodo's plan had been finally arranged； he suddenlyannounced that he was going off again next morning。 'Only for a short while； Ihope；' he said。 'But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get somenews； if I can。 I have been idle longer than I should。'
He spoke lightly； but it seemed to Frodo that he looked rather worried。
'Has anything happened？' he asked。
'Well no； but I have heard something that has made me anxious and needslooking into。 If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once； Ishall e back immediately； or at least send word。 In the meanwhile stick toyour plan； but be more careful than ever； especially of the Ring。 Let meimpress on you once more： _don't use it！'_
He went off at dawn。 'I may be back any day；' he said。 'At the verylatest I shall e back for the farewell party。 I think after all you mayneed my pany on the Road。'
At first Frodo was a good deal disturbed； and wondered often what Gandalfcould have heard； but his uneasiness wore off； and in the fine weather heforgot his troubles for a while。 The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer；
or so rich an autumn： the trees were laden with apples； honey was dripping inthe bs； and the corn was tall and full。
Autumn was well under way before Frodo began to worry about Gandalfagain。 September was passing and there was still no news of him。 The Birthday；
and the removal； drew nearer； and still he did not e； or send word。 Bag Endbegan to be busy。 Some of Frodo's friends came to stay and help him with thepacking： there was Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin； and of course his specialfriends Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck。 Between them they turned the wholeplace upside…down。
On September 20th two covered carts went off laden to Buckland； conveyingthe furniture and goods that Frodo had not sold to his new home； by way of theBrandywine Bridge。 The next day Frodo became really anxious； and kept aconstant look…out for Gandalf。 Thursday； his birthday morning； dawned as fairand clear as it had long ago for Bilbo's great party。 Still Gandalf did notappear。 In the evening Frodo gave his farewell feast： it was quite small； justa dinner for himself and his four helpers； but he was troubled and fell in nomood for it。 The thought that he would so soon have to part with his youngfriends weighed on his heart。 He wondered how he would break it to them。
The four younger hobbits were； however； in high spirits； and the partysoon became very cheerful in spite of Gandalf's absence。 The dining…room wasbare except for a table and chairs； but the food was good； and there was goodwine： Frodo's wine had not been included in the sale to the Sackville…
Bagginses。
'Whatever happens to the rest of my stuff； when the S。…B。s get theirclaws on it； at any rate I have found a good home for this！' said Frodo； as hedrained his glass。 It was the last drop of Old Winyards。
When they had sung many songs； and talked of many things they had donetogether； they toasted Bilbo's birthday； and they drank his health and Frodo'stogether according to Frodo's custom。 Then they went out for a sniff of air；
and glimpse of the stars； and then they went to bed。 Frodo's party was over；
and Gandalf had not e。
The next morning they were busy packing another cart with the remainderof the luggage。 Merry took charge of this； and drove off with Fatty （that isFredegar Bolger）。 'Someone must get there and warm the house before youarrive；' said Merry。 'Well； see you later – the day after tomorrow； if youdon't go to sleep on the way！'
Folco went home after lunch； but Pippin remained behind。 Frodo wasrestless and anxious； listening in vain for a sound of Gandalf。 He decided towait until nightfall。 After that； if Gandalf wanted him urgently； he would goto Crickhollow； and might even get there first。 For Frodo was going on foot。
His plan – for pleasure and a last look at the Shire as much as any other
reason – was to walk from Hobbiton to Bucklebury Ferry； taking it fairly easy。
'I shall get myself a bit into training； too；' he said； looking athimself in a dusty mirror in the half…empty hall。 He had not done anystrenuous walking for a long time； and the reflection looked rather flabby； hethought。
After lunch； the Sackville…Bagginses； Lobelia and her sandy…haired son；
Lotho； turned up； much to Frodo's annoyance。 'Ours at last！' said Lobelia； asshe stepped inside。 It was not polite； nor strictly true； for the sale of BagEnd did not take effect until midnight。 But Lobelia can perhaps be forgiven：
she had been obliged to wait about seventy…seven years longer for Bag End thanshe once hoped； and she was now a hundred years old。 Anyway； she had e tosee that nothing she had paid for had been carried off； and she wanted thekeys。 It took a long while to satisfy her； as she had brought a pleteinventory with her and went right through it。 In the end she departed withLotho and the spare key and the promise that the other key would be left atthe Gamgees' in Bagshot Row。 She snorted； and showed plainly that she thoughtthe Gamgees capable of plundering the hole during the night。 Frodo did notoffer her any tea。
He took his own tea with Pippin and Sam Gamgee in the kitchen。 It hadbeen officially announced that Sam was ing to Buckland 'to do for Mr。 Frodoand look after his bit of garden'； an arrangement that was approved by theGaffer； though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as aneighbour。
'Our last meal at Bag End！' said Frodo； pushing back his chair。 They leftthe washing up for Lobelia。 Pippin and Sam strapped up their three packs andpiled them in the porch。 Pippin went out for a last stroll in the garden。 Samdisappeared。
The sun went down。 Bag End seemed sad and gloomy and dishevelled。 Frodowandered round the familiar rooms； and saw the light of the sunset fade on thewalls； and shadows creep out of the corners。 It grew slowly dark indoors。 Hewent out and walked down to the gate at the bottom of the path； and then on ashort way down the Hill Road。 He half expected to see Gandalf e striding upthrough the dusk。
The sky was clear and the stars were growing bright。 'It's going to be afine night；' he said aloud。 'That's good for a beginning。 I feel like walking。
I can't bear any more hanging about。 I am going to start； and Gandalf mustfollow me。' He turned to go back； and then slopped； for he heard voices； justround the corner by the end of Bagshot Row。 One voice was certainly the oldGaffer's； the other was strange； and somehow unpleasant。 He could not make outwhat it said； but he heard the Gaffer's answers； which were rather shrill。 Theold man seemed put out。
'No； Mr。 Baggins has gone away。 Went this morning； and my Sam went withhim： anyway all his stuff went。 Yes； sold out and gone； I tell'ee。 Why？ Why'snone of my business； or yours。 Where to？ That ain't no secret。 He's moved toBucklebury or some such place； away down yonder。 Yes it is – a tidy way。 I'venever been so far myself； they're queer folks in Buckland。 No； I can't give nomessage。 Good night to you！'
Footsteps went away down the Hill。 Frodo wondered vaguely why the factthat they did not e on up t