I love the comic moments, too! And Ioreth is a hoot. But my favourite is the reaction of the Gaffer to Sam's homecoming:
(to Frodo) 'And I hope my Sam's behaved hisself and given satisfaction?'
'Perfect satisfaction, Mr Gamgee', said Frodo. 'Indeed, if you will believe it, he's now one of the most famous people in all the lands ...'
(I just love the contrast of this, after hundreds of pages of the most dire trials. The Gaffer hears Frodo's reply and continues undeterred:...)
'I takes a lot o'believing, though I can see he's been mixing in strange company. [Indeed!!] What's come of his weskit? I don't hold with wearing ironmongery, whether it wears well or no.'
What I love about this is not only that it's hilariously funny but that it's also somehow very moving at the same time.
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