Strong strides are crunching on the driveway's gravel in the evening air. The little hobbits are scattered like a flock of sparrows, hustled by their elder:
- "Haro, you whippersnappers! Back to your smials! Soup is simmering on the hearth and your elder is expecting to tell his story! »
A brat cautiously walks away and sings by dragging spineless glances at Belladonna:
-« Vile daughter fairy,
With her wands
In the woods dreary
She awaits you.
Great evils hands
Woe betide you ! »
Belladonna represses a sad smile, takes her big voice and replies, grabbing a branch of hazel:
- "Out with you! To your hole, Fred Sandyman! By my wand beware the Mewlip! »
Cries of ospreys rise, as acute as a plaintive grinder wheel, and disperse while exorcising the threat up to the enlightened family smials thresholds.
Belladonna pushes the big gate of the House of Mathoms. A resigned chime welcomes the daughter of the house with a caressing air. The Hobbit girl walks in the darkness of the rooms. Drapes bend before her with many soothing. Proud and fatherly smiles animate masks when she passes. Elven dresses gracefully bow. Silver trinkets blink with a discreet accomplice glittering:
- "Do you remember? We taught you dreaming and curiosity. The patina of our woodwork instructed you with patience and modesty. We are steeped in wilderness - we used to frighten you, but you tamed your fears while befriending our gold. We have revealed a part of yourself. We are the backbone of your roof. »
Belladonna, the offspring of Thain of the Shire and Avacuna the fairy, advances confident under the wings of a great eagle of wood and paper.
Each familiar room has consolidated the building of her mind. Every bit of memory, told or dreamed, strengthened her confidence in life. The shadowy and mysterious corners that still exist in the House of Mathoms, among the trinkets and relics, calls to adventure in vast Middle-earth and justify the hope to find still more wonders in this world or beyond.
Her parents left her. Her many siblings desperately mourn them. The couple's long life had finally suggested their eternity. At Tuckboroughs, nobody dares move or change anything in the apartments of the Thain, who seems still to sit on his sculpted chair, scrutinizing the heart and mind of the assembled guests. It looks like he is still dwelling among his kin, ensuring harmony between the factions, advising his peers, scolding and pushing the youth forward.
Leur joie intime reviendra. On dit qu'ensemble le vieux couple fête l'arrivée du printemps renouvelé, parmi les fées et les lucioles, en un lieu hors du temps et des souffrances de ce monde. Belladone en est certaine. Car le carillon de la vieille porte, témoin des émois de tant de jours, n'a rien perdu de sa fraîche insouciance.
Their intimate joy will be back. It is said that together the old couple celebrates the arrival of renewed spring, amidst fairies and fireflies in a place out of time and suffering of this world. Belladonna is certain of that. For the chime of the old door, that witnessed the emotions of so many days, has lost none of its refreshing carelessness.