| Oh! I like the beginning, just like the opening of 'The Hobbit!' Plus, it sets a mood that's a little ooozy and sinister. And it gets a bit scary when the ruffians are right outside the hole. I felt sorry for the goat, though. Good thing Mum was able to hold on to the dog, or there might have been Nip stew on the ruffian's menu as well. But Pip and Mer and Rudi didn't leave too quickly after all for the family to be found. I'm glad that Hardy's Da got to reunite with his loved ones without too much time in agonized fearful speculation about their fate (I feel strange calling them Mum and Da without ever knowing their names). And Rudi finds Stell at last. The reaction of the boys when they find that Twig is a young lady is predicable disgust, but I hope some of their parents' admiration is real and not just for the benefit of the gentry present. I'm a little worried about Merry, who's not looking good. Any conversation between him and Stell on the way back to the Smials but must not be too memorable as I remember when next introduced to Stella he's quite amazed at how prettily she's grown up. That disguise must be pretty effective. I hope Merry and party make it back to the Smials OK. They've got half the archers as escort, but their Captain's not good for much and there are women and children to protect. You wouldn't let anyone go after them, would you? Freddy needs his sister. |
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