[Envinyatar]

From his vantage point on the roof, Derufin could see the Hobbits working at a steady pace below. Andwise, of course, knew the other four, younger lads and had stepped into the room they were just starting to frame, admiring their work and asking where, if any, doors they intended to put on and would their be any built in cabinets.

‘Aye, there’ll be a door here,’ said Tomlin, ‘and two windows, here and here. So’s they can get a cross-breeze of sorts on those hot shire nights.’ He shook his head at the question of cabinets – be best if we just put in a wardrobe, I think – one they can move if they need to.’

He could not here what Andwise said, as they had now passed into the interior of the house. But soon he saw Andwise bringing out cupboard doors to lean against some sawhorses he’d set up. And on another pair, he and one of the younger Hobbits, Fallon, had brought ought the old door and laid it flat across them.

‘Think you can salvage that one?’ Derufin called down to Andwise as the Hobbit surveyed wood closely, running his practiced fingers along the surface as his eyes scanned up and down.