Asphodel smiled, though she tried to conceal it, as her father gave Angry Brandybuck a glare as hard as steel. She knew him well; Halfred Hamfast never turned away a fair business proposition.
"Your mighty young to be smoking so much," said Halfred. "But business is business. How much are you willing to offer?"
"Oh, for pity's sake!" exclaimed Belladonna Boffin suddenly from the other side of the table. "He's a family friend, Halfred. Just give it to the lad!"
"Without any payment?" said Halfred incredulously. "Give him some of my fresh Longbottom Leaf, home grown on my plantation, hand picked just this morining..."
But he was too late. Hanna, who had removed the leather pouch of leaf from her father's coat and had been showing it to her aunt, walked shyly up to Angry, opened the pouch, and held some out to him with her small hand.
Asphodel watched as Angry quickly took the leaf, mumbled a bit of thanks, and left to go back to his table. Hanna had now retreated back to her own seat, face red as a ripe tomato, and hid herself behind her aunt's cloak. Asphodel smiled. Her sister definitely had a fancy for young Mr. Brandybuck.
Halfred said nothing. He simply grabed the pouch, which had been left on the table, stuffed it in his jacket, and shoved his pipe discontently back into his mouth.
"Well," thought Asphodel, "at least he didn't see Angry with the Big Folk."
"Perhaps," said Belladonna after a moment, "you should try growing vegetables, Halfred." She smiled. Halfred scowled.
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:13 PM January 27, 2004: Message edited by: Linnahiril Tinnufinwen ]
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