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Toby’s gold quickly disappeared into Snaveling’s tunic, and the Man was quick to assure the hobbit that the money was entirely safe with him – and at first, he even meant it. Buoyed by his conversations with Aman and Galadel, and floating as he was on the wings of a more manageable amount of drink, Snaveling was feeling better disposed toward the world and its peoples than he had in many a year. He settled back into the cushions of the arm chair, had another warming sip of brandy, and allowed himself the satisfaction of reflecting upon his newfound virtue. I will protect this gold with my very life he thought to himself, smiling at his goodness. I am a trustworthy man; and when Toby wishes me to pass it along to my good friend Aman, I will do so happily, and then Roa will see what kind of a Man I really am!.
The thought of Roa’s commendatory amazement caused him to sigh happily. He turned to Toby and saw that the hobbit had once again decided to rest his eyes…oddly enough, this seemed to entail a certain amount of snoring as well. Out of curiosity, Snaveling removed the money pouch and opened it again. There was indeed a lot of money in there. He shook his head and put it away, before helping himself to another sip of brandy. He allowed his mind to drift back to the scene in which he handed over the gold and Roa stood admiring him for his goodness. He smiled at this scene and looked over to the Ranger where she sat by the fire. She was quite fetching in that dress, and he smiled at that, too. But then it occurred to him how he must appear to her. He glanced down at his ragged clothes and poked his finger through the holes in his tunic. His boots were more patches than leather, and his hair had not been tended to in years.
His mind turned back to the pouch that lay against his heart. Once more he removed it and opened it. This time, he took out a single gold coin and held it up contemplatively before him. He took another sip of brandy and looked across the room at Roa. Her eyes met his and he smiled, but she frowned and looked away once more. Of course she avoids your eye, foolish Man! he cursed. You are appalling to her. She does not yet know the change that has been wrought in your heart; she thinks that you are still the wretch she met all those weeks ago! Well, time will mend that! But his eyes wandered back down to his clothes, and he was dismayed. I may have changed, but my appearance certainly has not. He weighed the gold coin in his hand and thought of the new raiment that it could buy him. For a moment he sat like that poised on the edge of uncertainty, weighing the coin in one hand, and in the other his certainty that Roa would never be able to look at him as anything other than as a vagabond and a thief until he did not appear so much like one.
He took one more sip of the brandy. Toby snorted loudly and started in his chair, nearly spilling his glass. Before the gentlehobit could see him do it, Snaveling put the coin into his own pocket.
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