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.