The History of LotR - Chapter-by-Chapter Companion

[HerenIstarion]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Even more interesting – the neighbours chalked up Bilbo’s sudden disappearance (in The Hobbit) to having gone and gotten married! They couldn’t figure out to whom, though, since no one else had disappeared. Isn’t that absolutely hilarious?!

That is.

And, I suppose, that is the source of third edition of The Hobbit remark of:

It was often said (in other families) that long ago one of the Took ancestors must have taken a fairy wife. That was, of course, absurd

As such a remark is not present in first edition (that is, if my memory does not fail me)

It looks like Tolkien was mocking himself out (besides it being, of course, absurd in a more literal way, too, and creating the sense of familiarity for the reader, showing there is more to the world hobbits live in than is described in the book)