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Frodo, the eldest of the four, was fifty, and very attractive, being slight and fair, with large blue eyes, plenty of soft, dark hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which he was rather vain. Forty-eight-year-old Sam was very sturdy, strong and brown, and reminded one of a colt, for he never seemed to know what to do with his tools, which were very much in his way. He had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, brown eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. His long, thick hair was his one beauty: but it was usually brushed back, to be out of his way. Round shoulders had Sam, big hands and feet, a gardener’s look to his clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a hobbit who was constantly seeing others admiring Frodo, and didn’t like it. Meriadoc – or Merry, as everyone called him – was a rosy, curly-haired, bright-eyed hobbit of forty-six, with a cheerful manner, a chirpy voice, and a happy expression, which was seldom disturbed. His father called him Never Tranquillity, and the name suited him excellently; for he seemed to live in a happy world of his own, often venturing out to meet the many whom he trusted and loved. Pippin, though the youngest, was a most important person, in his own opinion at least. A regular empty-belly, with hazel eyes, and brown hair, curling on his shoulders, mischievous and good-hearted, and never carrying himself like a young hobbit mindful of his manners. What the characters of the four hobbits were we will leave to be found out.
…..
“Glad to find you so merry, my hobbits,” said a cheery voice at the door, and the hobbits turned to welcome a tall, greybearded wizard, with a “can-I-turn-you-into-something-unnatural” look about him which was truly delightful. He was not elegantly dressed, but a noble-looking Istari, and the hobbits thought the grey cloak and pointy hat covered the most splendid wizard in the world.
…. Later on, at the Forbidden Pool….
“Then you fancy that Frodo is not interested in Smeagol?”
“Who?” cried Sam, staring.
“Gollum. I call him Smeagol now, I fell into the way of doing so after we found him, and he likes it.”
“Oh, dear! I know you’ll take his part: he’s been a Slinker to you, and you won’t send him away, but let him travel with us, if he wants to. Mean thing! To go snivelling and helping you, just to wheedle you into liking him,”: and Sam pulled his hair again with a wrathful tweak.
“My friend, don’t get angry about it, and I will tell you how it happened. Smeagol went with you at his own request, and was so devoted to poor Frodo that he couldn’t help getting fond of him. He was perfectly open and honorable to Frodo, for he told him he loved the Ring, but would swear on the Precious to be faithful before he asked to go with him. He only wanted his leave to love it and work for him, and the right to make Frodo like him if he could . He is a truly disgusting old creature, but Frodo could not refuse to listen to him; though I will not consent to Frodo letting him touch the Ring.”
“Of course not; it would be idiotic! I knew there was mischief brewing; I felt it; and now it’s worse than I imagined. I just wish I could marry Frodo myself, and keep him safe in the family.”
This odd arrangement made Faramir smile, but he said gravely, “Sam, I confide in you, and don’t wish you say anything to Frodo yet. When Smeagol comes back, and I see them together, I can judge better of his feelings towards him.”
“Frodo’ll see his in those big eyes that he talks about and then it will be all up with him. He’s got such a soft heart, it will melt like butter in the sun if anyone looks miserably at him. Frodo likes the coneys Gollum caught more than he did my potatoes, and pinched me when I spoke of it, and likes big blue eyes, and doesn’t think Smeagol an ugly name, and he’ll go and let him come with us, and there’s an end of peace and fun, and cosy times together.”