[Tevildo]

Camille watched in hungry anticipation as platters overflowing with biscuits and eggs were brought out from the kitchen and set down on the table. She immediately began to eat but was careful to slip two or three biscuits from the pile when she though Falco wasn't looking and stash them away in her now empty bag. Her brother loved biscuits, and she wasn't about to disappoint him.

Although most of Camille's attention was centered on the biscuits, she made sure to get a close look at Falco and listen to what he was saying. She already liked him a great deal. There was something so quaint and earnest about his manner that Camille couldn't help but smile. She wondered if the gentleman was married but somehow didn't think so. In a strange way, he reminded her of the old tales she'd heard of Bilbo Baggins. Her mother liked those stories very much and had told her and Rory about Bilbo many times. A little bird flitted in a corner of Camille's mind as she wondered if her mother would like to meet Falco. Ma got out so very little since it was difficult with her brother. Camille thought it might do her a great deal of good.

Falco was talking about the dress and trying to figure out a way that Camille could be persuaded to take it. or another one. She answered his questions as politely as she could. Then he asked her about sending the basket of food. Camille suddenly had an idea in her head, but she didn't know if she dared ask it. Still, it was better to open her mouth and try." Master Falco, you are too kind. Unfortunately, mother is stubborn and smart. Once she hears your offer, she'll guess you are giving me something for nothing. It wouldn't make any sense that you were paying me for doing work for someone else. But I do have an idea."

Camille took a deep breath and then plunged ahead. "Perhaps, you could bundle up your laundry for Mum. She could come to the Inn every morning to get it, and return it the next morning all nicely folded and clean. I would offer to do this myself but I'll be busy working here. Anyways, Mum is a much better laundress. You could pay her with a basket of food and one clean frock for me. No more than one, mind you, or Mum would be suspicious. Perhaps later, if things worked out, you might include a new breeches and shirt for my brother. " The image of her brother in his too-tight pants and raggedy shirt popped into Camille's mind. She stared down at her plate and nervously rearranged the eggs with her fork. Then she glanced over at Falco, who seemed to be deep in thought as if weighing the meaning behind her words.

"Oh, yes," Camille added, pressing her argument to its logical concludion, "there's one other thing. I know Mum would want to speak with you first about all this. Otherwise she'd never agree. If you wanted, you could ask her and Rory up to the Inn for dinner tonight and we could talk this all out"

Camille wondered if she'd pushed the kindly gentleman too far. She had no idea how he felt about poor hobbit lads or middle-aged widows. She hoped what she had said was alright, but she dared not stop now. "One other thing," she continued, "Mum will need a bit of help getting Rory up to the Inn. You see, he can't walk well. He's a thin slip of a hobbit, much smaller than I am. And he's just ten-years old. Perhaps if you could carry him or bring a small cart down by The Water where we are living now. I know he would love to get out."