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he River。' Then lightly she passed themand closing the door she turned her back to it； with her white arms spread outacross it。 'Let us shut out the night！' she said。 'For you are still afraid；
perhaps； of mist and tree…shadows and deep water； and untame things。 Fearnothing！ For tonight you are under the roof of Tom Bombadil。'
The hobbits looked at her in wonder； and she looked at each of them andsmiled。 'Fair lady Goldberry！' said Frodo at last； feeling his heart movedwith a joy that he did not understand。 He stood as he had at times stoodenchanted by fair elven…voices； but the spell that was now laid upon him wasdifferent： less keen and lofty was the delight； but deeper and nearer tomortal heart； marvellous and yet not strange。 'Fair lady Goldberry！' he saidagain。 'Now the joy that was hidden in the songs we heard is made plain to me。
O slender as a willow…wand！ O clearer than clear water！
O reed by the living pool！ Fair River…daughter！
O spring…time and summer…time； and spring again after！
O wind on the waterfall； and the leaves' laughter！'
Suddenly he stopped and stammered； overe with surprise to hear himselfsaying such things。 But Goldberry laughed。
'Wele！' she said。 'I had not heard that folk of the Shire were so
sweet…tongued。 But I see you are an elf…friend； the light in your eyes and thering in your voice tells it。 This is a merry meeting！ Sit now； and wait forthe Master of the house！ He will not be long。 He is tending your tiredbeasts。'
The hobbits sat down gladly in low rush…seated chairs； while Goldberrybusied herself about the table； and their eyes followed her； for the slendergrace of her movement filled them with quiet delight。 From somewhere behindthe house came the sound of singing。 Every now and again they caught； amongmany a _derry dol_ and a _merry dol_ and a _ring a ding dillo_ the repeatedwords：
Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow；
Bright blue his jacket is； and his boots are yellow。
'Fair lady！' said Frodo again after a while。 'Tell me； if my asking doesnot seem foolish； who is Tom Bombadil？'
'He is；' said Goldberry； staying her swift movements and smiling。
Frodo looked at her questioningly。 'He is； as you have seen him；' shesaid in answer to his look。 'He is the Master of wood； water； and hill。'
'Then all this strange land belongs to him？'
'No indeed！' she answered； and her smile faded。 'That would indeed be aburden；' she added in a low voice； as if to herself。 'The trees and thegrasses and all things growing or living in the land belong each tothemselves。 Tom Bombadil is the Master。 No one has ever caught old Tom walkingin the forest； wading in the water； leaping on the hill…tops under light andshadow。 He has no fear。 Tom Bombadil is master。'
A door opened and in came Tom Bombadil。 He had now no hat and his thickbrown hair was crowned with autumn leaves。 He laughed； and going to Goldberry；
took her hand。
'Here's my pretty lady！' he said； bowing to the hobbits。 'Here's myGoldberry clothed all in silver…green with flowers in her girdle！ Is the tableladen？ I see yellow cream and honeyb； and white bread； and butter； milk；
cheese； and green herbs and ripe berries gathered。 Is that enough for us？ Isthe supper ready？'
'It is；' said Goldberry； 'but the guests perhaps are not？'
Tom clapped his hands and cried： 'Tom； Tom！ your guests are tired； andyou had near forgotten！ e now； my merry friends； and Tom will refresh you！
You shall clean grimy hands； and wash your weary faces； cast off your muddycloaks and b out your tangles！'
He opened the door； and they followed him down a short passage and rounda sharp turn。 They came to a low room with a sloping roof （a penthouse； itseemed； built on to the north end of the house）。 Its walls were of cleanstone； but they were mostly covered with green hanging mats and yellowcurtains。 The floor was flagged； and strewn with fresh green rushes。 Therewere four deep mattresses； each piled with white blankets； laid on the flooralong one side。 Against the opposite wall was a long bench laden with wideearthenware basins； and beside it stood brown ewers filled with water； somecold； some steaming hot。 There were soft green slippers set ready beside eachbed。
Before long； washed and refreshed； the hobbits were seated at the table；
two on each side； while at either end sat Goldberry and the Master。 It was along and merry meal。 Though the hobbits ate； as only famished hobbits can eat；
there was no lack。 The drink in their drinking…bowls seemed to be clear coldwater； yet it went to their hearts like wine and set free their voices。 Theguests became suddenly aware that they were singing merrily； as if it waseasier and more natural than talking。
At last Tom and Goldberry rose and cleared the table swiftly。 The guestswere manded to sit quiet； and were set in chairs； each with a footstool tohis tired feet。 There was a fire in the wide hearth before them； and it wasburning with a sweet smell； as if it were built of apple…wood。 When everythingwas set in order； all the lights in the room were put out； except one lamp anda pair of candles at each end of the chimney…shelf。 Then Goldberry came andstood before them； holding a candle； and she wished them each a good night anddeep sleep。
'Have peace now；' she said； 'until the morning！ Heed no nightly noises！
For nothing passes door and window here save moonlight and starlight and thewind off the hill…top。 Good night！' She passed out of the room with a glimmerand a rustle。 The sound of her footsteps was like a stream falling gently awaydownhill over cool stones in the quiet of night。
Tom sat on a while beside them in silence； while each of them tried to
muster the courage to ask one of the many questions he had meant to ask atsupper。 Sleep gathered on their eyelids。 At last Frodo spoke：
'Did you hear me calling； Master； or was it just chance that brought youat that moment？'
Tom stirred like a man shaken out of a pleasant dream。 'Eh； what？' saidhe。 'Did I hear you calling？ Nay； I did not hear： I was busy singing。 Justchance brought me then； if chance you call it。 It was no plan of mine； thoughI was waiting for you。 We heard news of you； and learned that you werewandering。 We guessed you'd e ere long down to the water： all paths leadthat way； down to Withywindle。 Old grey Willow…man； he's a mighty singer； andit's hard for little folk to escape his cunning mazes。 But Tom had an errandthere； that he dared not hinder。' Tom nodded as if sleep was taking him again；
but he went on in a soft singing voice：
I had an errand there： gathering water…lilies；
green leaves and lilies white to please my pretty lady；
the last ere the year's end to keep them from the winter；
to flower by her pretty feet tilt the snows are melted。
Each year at summer's end I go to find them for her；
in a wide pool； deep and clear； far down Withywindle；
there they open first in spring and there they linger latest。
By that pool long ago I found the River…daughter；
fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes。
Sweet was her singing then； and her heart was beating！
He opened his eyes and looked at them with a sudden glint of blue：
And that proved well for you – for now I shall no longergo down deep again along the forest…water；
not while the year is old。 Nor shall I be passingOld Man Willow's house this side of spring…time；
not till the merry spring； when the River…daughterdances down the withy…path to bathe in the water。
He fell silent again； but Frodo could not help asking one more question：
the one he most desired to have answered。 'Tell us； Master；' he said； 'aboutthe Willow…man。 What is he？ I have never heard of him before。'
'No； don't！' said Merry and Pippin together； sitting suddenly upright。
'Not now！ Not until the morning！'
'That is right！' said the old man。 'Now is the time for resting。 Somethings are ill to hear when the world's in shadow。 Sleep till the morning…
light； rest on the pillow！ Heed no nightly noise！ Fear no grey willow！' Andwith that he took down the lamp and blew it out； and grasping a candle ineither hand he led them out of the room。
Their mattresses and pillows were soft as down； and the blankets were ofwhite wool。 They had hardly laid themselves