“Samwise?” questioned Frodo. “Why did the Gaffer and Mistress Bell name him that? There’s no foolishness in him!”
“You’re right there, my lad,” Bilbo agreed. “The young Hobbit is as sagacious as they come, our Samwise Gamgee.”
They watched him, kneeling soft-eyed over a stand of snapdragons he was planting opposite the study window. Glancing up, Sam caught Frodo’s eye, and smiled worshipfully before returning his attention to the flowers. He stroked one bloom with a single finger, then grinned as he made it gape open.
“Sagacious, and an utter slave to what lifts his spirits,” whispered Bilbo to himself.