After the feast (more or less)
came the Speech. Most of the company were, however, now in a tolerant mood, at that
delightful stage which they called 'filling up the corners'. They were sipping their
favourite drinks, and nibbling at their favourite dainties, and their fears were
forgotten. They were prepared to listen to anything, and to cheer at every full stop.
My dear People, began Bilbo, rising in his place. 'Hear! Hear! Hear!' they shouted, and
kept on repeating it in chorus, seeming reluctant to follow their own advice. Bilbo left
his place and went and stood on a chair under the illuminated tree. The light on the
lanterns fell on his beaming face; the golden buttons shone on his embroidered silk
waistcoat. They could all see him standing, waving one hand in the air, the other was in
his trouser-pocket.
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