The Glutton

            Lalia’s nurse looked at the heavily laden tray she was to bear back to her mistress’s bedroom and groaned, “That’s thrice the amount any decent Hobbit would want for a snack at bedtime!”

            Cook shrugged.  “She’s a glutton—no two ways about that,” she agreed.

            Lalia’s eyes lit up as the bed tray was set across her ample thighs.  “Oh, yes!” she said.  “I do appreciate having more of tonight’s puddings!”  She took up the large spoon provided her and dug out a generous bite of currant cake.

             But when finished she whimpered, “If only I could eat more!”