[Nurumaiel]

Posco glanced at Marcho, and the latter nodded his head firmly and said, 'We'll be leaving tomorrow, like as not.'

Blanco threw back his head and howled dismally. 'So soon?' he cried. 'Oh, can't we stay longer?' He and Posco looked miserably at each other, at Lily, and back at each other again. Bingo gazed at them earnestly for some time, and then began to plead with Marcho. Marcho seemed to waver under Bingo's begging, but he said no more but that he would consider staying longer.

Peony had walked calmly out of the Inn, but as soon as the door had closed behind her she had flown to the window she had been looking at earlier, and her eyes searched here and there until she saw a hobbit lad leaning again the stable wall. With a little cry she sprang towards him, saying, 'Hal Brandybuck!'

He turned, and his eyes lit up as he took the hands she held out to him. 'My dear Peony,' he said, bending forward to brush his lips against her cheek, 'what a pleasant surprise to see you here.' He was a little taller than her, with light brown hair and brown eyes, and a face that was slightly tanned from days in the sun. His hands were calloused, but they held Peony's own little white hands with a gentleness rarely equaled. He was dressed in the garb of most farmers of Buckland, though his overcoat suggested he had been travelling, and the mud on it signified that he had been travelling long enough to have ridden through the rain of the earlier day. Peony's eyes were shining as she gazed up at his, and his own displayed great warmth and affection.

'Is it really so great a surprise, Hal?' she asked, blushing slightly. 'I cannot think of what business you would have here... unless...'

'Unless it was to find you, you do mean,' said Hal. He turned and began to stroll towards the garden, and she slipped her arm through his own. His heart seemed to skip a beat at the touch of that sweet hand on his sleeve, and his eyes filled with adoration for the pretty lass at his side. 'To tell you the truth, Peony, I did come here to find you. I heard where you were going and I became afraid that you would not be coming back for some time.' He looked with boyish earnestness into her face.

She laughed lightly and her eyes twinkled. 'Silly lad!' she said. 'I am going home tomorrow, if the weather is fair. You did not need to ride so far to see me. You must have left before I did if you were riding in yesterday's rain. I am surprised I did not pass you on the road.'

'My pony has gone slightly lame and I did not want to put strain upon him by riding swiftly.' He paused, and then he patted the hand that held lightly onto his arm. 'Dear Peony, if I know your aunt you won't be back for at least a week. She'll take a fancy to having someone about to help her and amuse her, and she'll want you to stay longer. Of course you won't say no.'

'Maybe not,' said Peony, 'and I'm sure I will not now that you are here. Do you intend to stay at the Inn?'

'Yes:' said Hal: 'until you come home with me.'

'Silly lad!' said Peony again. 'I will go home with my brothers, more than likely. I can't go home with you, not until my father gives his permission.'

'I know,' said Hal, and a cloud of sorrow passed over his face. He turned and took both her hands in his, kissing them, and he said, 'Darling dearie, I have loved you for so long, and I have waited so long for you. How cruel your father is to keep us apart so!'

'Please, Hal, I would not have you make a scene,' said Peony, laughing in some amusement. 'Surely people will not be annoyed to see the face of you, but it would be humiliating for me. And... for my father's sake... he does not even approve of a kiss and a tender word of devotion.' She gently pulled her hands from his, and took his arm again. 'If it is to pass that we become each other's, it will pass. Father will change his heart and mind if it is to be. Don't worry, Hal.'

Blanco was standing at the window, and he saw Peony standing with Hal, and he turned a beaming face to his brother. 'Posco, look!' he said, when he was quite certain that he could call the attention of his brother and friends without causing Peony any embarrassment. 'Hal is here!' Posco's face lit up and he said, 'Let us go out and greet him.' He stood, pulled Lily's chair out from the table so she might stand easier, and said, 'Lily, would you like to meet Mr. Hal Brandybuck? He will probably be my sister's husband before too long.'