Mister Adams sat smoking his pipe all night, until he heard a knock on his door.
"Mister Adams? Are you in there?" It was Frodo.
"Yes?"
"May I speak with you?"
"Oh, um yes, come in." Mister Adams mumbled, not turning around to look at Frodo when he entered
"You haven't been out of your study all day, and you haven't eaten any meals. If you don't mind my asking what's wrong? Are you feeing ill?"
"No, I am fine." Mister Adams answered automatically.
"Alright then, you will have no problem answering my questions."
"Questions?"
"Yes questions, Merry came to see me after the Pippin awoke the second time, and explained the entire episode. I want to know why you were so shocked to see Pippin awake; Merry said that you looked petrified. That's the reason I came here, I didn't want to intrude on your privacy, but Merry was worried and asked if I could come and speak with you while he was watching Pippin."
"Merry was concerned about my well being?"
"If you want to put it that way, yes he is, even after you were so mean about Pippin and all." At this Frodo shot him an angry look
"I am amazed, and thankful; he must be very mature for his age."
"If you would take the time to get to know Merry, Mister Adams, you will find that he is one of the nicest, funniest, most caring hobbits in all the shire. But enough about Merry, I want to know why you looked like you had seen a ghost when Pippin woke up."
"I did see a ghost, a ghost of a memory."
"Marina?"
"How do you know about her?" Mister Adams snapped out of his daze and turned angrily towards Frodo
"Merry overheard you talking about her the other day. Who was she?"
"What business is it of yours?" He said defensively
"I want to know why you have no hope for Pippin, and she seems to be my answer, so who is she?" Mister Adams seemed to consider him for a moment, then relaxed, The question is harmless enough, and he has a right to know.
"Alright then. She was my daughter."
"You had a daughter?" Frodo's eyebrows raised, Mister Adams wasn't exactly his idea of a father.
"Yes, a long time ago I had a daughter named Marina. She became ill when she was young, just like Pippin, only she didn't wake up from her illness." Mister Adams felt tears come to his eyes, and looked quickly down at the floor.
"Oh, I am sorry." Frodo went to pat Mister Adams on the shoulder, but then remembering the fact that he was thirty years older than himself, thought better of it.
Mister Adams hastily wiped the tears from his eyes and added, "Yes well, it seems that Pippin is made of stronger stuff than he looks, but I must remind you that he isn't better yet."
"I know. Which is why I must leave now, thank you for answering my question."
"Not at all."
"You know what?" Frodo turned and grinned at the tutor.
"What?" Mister Adams asked defensively
"Merry was right, you do have a nice side!"
"Master Baggins, I will have you know that I…"Mister Adams began indignantly.
"Calm down! I was only teasing, its just you seemed unable to show any emotion, but I, well Merry really, found your soft side!" Frodo grinned again "You know, you should get used to people teasing and playing pranks on you, especially if you are going to tutor Merry!"
"And why is that?"
"Well, lets just say that Pippin doesn't take to teachers very well, and when he gets up, he will want to be with Merry, but with you keeping Merry from him…."Frodo's grin widened "He wont be too happy with you, then he will really live up to the nickname Merry's mother gave him."
"And what is that nickname?"
"Half of the terror of the Shire!" Frodo laughed at the look on the teachers face.
"I am afraid to ask, but who is the other half?"
"Merry of course!" Frodo laughed harder still at the teachers' worried face then with a polite "Good day!" He turned and went out into the hall.