All the Hobbits at the table ate without saying a word for awhile. Part of this was because they were all deliberating over what strange event had just occured. But part of it was also due to the fact that they were very well occupied by the business of eating. If there was one thing that could be said about the Hamfasts, it was that though they sure talked a lot, they liked a good meal so much that they only stopped talking at meal time. Eating was a serious matter to them. Asphodel, for her part, could not stop thinking about the strange gentlehobbit who had accosted them. After half an hour in this manner, it was Hanna who said something first.
"When are the other's going to be here?" she asked. She looked enquiringly at her father, who had just taken a bite of salted pork and was now chewing vigorously. "Is it eight o-clock yet?"
Halfred swollowed his pork, wiped his mouth and his hands on his napkin, and took out his pocket watch.
"It is now eight-twenty," he said. "Where are those boys, they're twenty minutes late!" He stuffed his watch back in his pocket and took a big gulp of ale from his mug.
"They'll be here," said Belladonna calmly. "Your friends are always late, Halfred. You should know that by now."
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