Chapter 16-Of Paintings and Troublemaking
As was fairly predictable, his sisters visited again. To complain about his behaviour and to say that yes, they did want him to find a nice hobbitlassie, but, no, this midget of a troublemaker ('Who dresses like she wants something from you, if you get my drift, brother small' remarked Pearl nastily) was not the right one for him.
And Merry was more than a little surprised when his friend got up quite calmly, and simply told them if they had anything reasonable to say they'd better say it before they outstayed their welcome, otherwise there was the door and they could just use it. The sisters walked out in stunned silence that their brother had contradicted them, and been so rude. 'I'll tell Daddy!' said Pervinca. 'Guid! Tell Paladin, aind the whole of the shire if ye like! He'll unnnerstaind far beitter tha' ye lot!' Pippin was shocked at himself, but Diamond seemed to have awakened something in him, and he had to defend her. He couldn't have let his sisters tell him what to do with her, not for the whole of the Shire. Let people think what they would, he.liked her too much to care.
All through the remainder of the sleepy summer, Pip spent a lot of time with his new friend. He visited almost every day, or she would come round his house, or they'd meet up at the Dragon or go out together. Merry almost began to feel himself getting a little jealous.
He was jealous of both of them, really. Of Diamond for occupying his best friend, and of Pippin for finding a decent lassie who wasn't Malva Proudfoot or Pimpernel. It would be quite depressing if, he thought, at least Pippin wasn't more 'with it' and normal now.
In fact, Merry hadn't seen him this happy since, well, the Amazing Hallucinogenic Mushrooms. He couldn't be certain this was a good thing..
When Pippin first came round her house, he was surprised to find canvases and painting equipment all over the place, along with some very impressive pictures. 'Here, these are guid!' he said, examining a portrait of what looked like the Mayor. 'Oh, well, I was asked to do that one specially. I do portraits for a living, for smials and for people's mantelpieces, of Great Uncle Boffin or whoever. And the landscapes are quite in demand...' Pippin picked up another one
'Its Brandybuck hall! Thut's brilliunt, it looks exactly like it' Diamond blushed slightly at the compliment. 'Thank you, I did that one quite recently. It's just quite a nice area to paint, round where you live'. Pippin thought a minute, looking at the picture again. 'Ye couldnea teach me how tae dae thus, could ye? How tae pent?' he said.
Diamond looked at him. Marvellous. An excuse to spend even more time with him! And she tried to ignore the little part of her mind, which was jumping up and down going: Valar, he'd make a lovely subject to paint, wouldn't he? Possibly with his clothes off, that would be fascinating, wouldn't it?
'Shut up' she told herself sternly. 'Eh? That's no' veery nice, ah wus only aiskin' 'Oh no, not you, I didn't mean you, I mean.uh, sure, we can start whenever you want, I'll do you, I mean, I mean, I'll do some painting with you.' she gave him a hopeless sort of grin. 'A'right, theen, ah'll see ye tomorrow..' Said the Took happily. 'Great' said Diamond feverishly.
As was fairly predictable, his sisters visited again. To complain about his behaviour and to say that yes, they did want him to find a nice hobbitlassie, but, no, this midget of a troublemaker ('Who dresses like she wants something from you, if you get my drift, brother small' remarked Pearl nastily) was not the right one for him.
And Merry was more than a little surprised when his friend got up quite calmly, and simply told them if they had anything reasonable to say they'd better say it before they outstayed their welcome, otherwise there was the door and they could just use it. The sisters walked out in stunned silence that their brother had contradicted them, and been so rude. 'I'll tell Daddy!' said Pervinca. 'Guid! Tell Paladin, aind the whole of the shire if ye like! He'll unnnerstaind far beitter tha' ye lot!' Pippin was shocked at himself, but Diamond seemed to have awakened something in him, and he had to defend her. He couldn't have let his sisters tell him what to do with her, not for the whole of the Shire. Let people think what they would, he.liked her too much to care.
All through the remainder of the sleepy summer, Pip spent a lot of time with his new friend. He visited almost every day, or she would come round his house, or they'd meet up at the Dragon or go out together. Merry almost began to feel himself getting a little jealous.
He was jealous of both of them, really. Of Diamond for occupying his best friend, and of Pippin for finding a decent lassie who wasn't Malva Proudfoot or Pimpernel. It would be quite depressing if, he thought, at least Pippin wasn't more 'with it' and normal now.
In fact, Merry hadn't seen him this happy since, well, the Amazing Hallucinogenic Mushrooms. He couldn't be certain this was a good thing..
When Pippin first came round her house, he was surprised to find canvases and painting equipment all over the place, along with some very impressive pictures. 'Here, these are guid!' he said, examining a portrait of what looked like the Mayor. 'Oh, well, I was asked to do that one specially. I do portraits for a living, for smials and for people's mantelpieces, of Great Uncle Boffin or whoever. And the landscapes are quite in demand...' Pippin picked up another one
'Its Brandybuck hall! Thut's brilliunt, it looks exactly like it' Diamond blushed slightly at the compliment. 'Thank you, I did that one quite recently. It's just quite a nice area to paint, round where you live'. Pippin thought a minute, looking at the picture again. 'Ye couldnea teach me how tae dae thus, could ye? How tae pent?' he said.
Diamond looked at him. Marvellous. An excuse to spend even more time with him! And she tried to ignore the little part of her mind, which was jumping up and down going: Valar, he'd make a lovely subject to paint, wouldn't he? Possibly with his clothes off, that would be fascinating, wouldn't it?
'Shut up' she told herself sternly. 'Eh? That's no' veery nice, ah wus only aiskin' 'Oh no, not you, I didn't mean you, I mean.uh, sure, we can start whenever you want, I'll do you, I mean, I mean, I'll do some painting with you.' she gave him a hopeless sort of grin. 'A'right, theen, ah'll see ye tomorrow..' Said the Took happily. 'Great' said Diamond feverishly.