ince then。'
'I have indeed！' said Sam。 'And I reckon there's Elves and Elves。 They're all elvish enough； but they're not all the same。 Now these folk aren't wanderers or homeless； and seem a bit nearer to the likes of us： they seem to belong here； more even than Hobbits do in the Shire。 Whether they've made the land； or the land's made them； it's hard to say； if you take my meaning。 It's wonderfully quiet here。 Nothing seems to be going on； and nobody seems to want it to。 If there's any magic about； it's right down deep； where I can't lay my hands on it； in a manner of speaking。'
'You can see and feel it everywhere；' said Frodo。
'Well；' said Sam； 'you can't see nobody working it。 No fireworks like poor Gandalf used to show。 I wonder we don't see nothing of the Lord and Lady in all these days。 I fancy now that she could do some wonderful things； if she had a mind。 I'd dearly love to see some Elfmagic； Mr。 Frodo！'
'I wouldn't；' said Frodo。 'I am content。 And I don't miss Gandalf's fireworks； but his bushy eyebroper； and his voice。'
'You're right；' said Sam。 'And don't think I'm finding fault。 I've often wanted to see a bit of magic like what it tells of in old tales； but I've never heard of a better land than this。 It's like being at home and on a holiday at the same time； if you understand me。 I don't want to leave。 All the same； I'm beginning to feel that if we've got to go on； then we'd best get it over。
'It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish； as my old gaffer used to say。 And I don't reckon that these folk can do much more to help us； magic or no。 It's when we leave this land that we shall miss Gandalf worse； I'm thinking。'
'I am afraid that's only too true； Sam；' said Frodo。 'Yet I hope very much that before we leave we shall see the Lady of the Elves again。'
Even as he spoke； they saw； as if she came in answer to their words； the Lady Galadriel approaching。 Tall and white and fair she walked beneath the trees。 She spoke no word； but beckoned to them。
Turning aside； she led them toward the southern slopes of the hill of Caras Galadhon； and passing through a high green hedge they came into an enclosed garden。 No trees grew there； and it lay open to the sky。 The evening star had risen and was shining with white fire above the western woods。 Down a long flight of steps the Lady went into a deep green hollow； through which ran murmuring the silver stream that issued from the fountain on the hill。 At the bottom； upon a low pedestal carved like a branching tree； stood a basin of silver。 wide and shallow； and beside it stood a silver ewer。
With water from the stream Galadriel filled the basin to the brim； and breathed on it； and when the water was still again she spoke。 'Here is the Mirror of Galadriel；' she said。 'I have brought you here so that you may look in it； if you will。'
The air was very still； and the dell was dark； and the Elflady beside him was tall and pale。 'What shall we look for； and what shall we see？ ' asked Frodo； filled with awe。
'Many things I can mand the Mirror to reveal；' she answered； 'and to some I can show what they desire to see。 But the Mirror will also show things unbidden； and those are often stranger and more profitable than things which we wish to behold。 What you will see； if you leave the Mirror free to work； I cannot tell。 For it shows things that were； and things that are； things that yet may be。 But which it is that he sees； even the wisest cannot always tell。 Do you wish to look？ '
Frodo did not answer。
'And you？ ' she said； turning to Sam。 'For this is what your folk would call magic。 I believe； though I do not understand clearly what they mean； and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy。 But this； if you will； is the magic of Galadriel。 Did you not say that you wished to see Elfmagic？ '
'I did；' said Sam； trembling a little between fear and curiosity。 'I'll have a peep； Lady； if you're willing。'
'And I'd not mind a glimpse of what's going on at home；' he said in an aside to Frodo。 'It seems a terrible long time that I've been away。 But there； like as not I'll only see the stars； or something that I won't understand。'
'Like as not；' said the Lady with a gentle laugh。 'But e； you shall look and see what you may。 Do not touch the water！'
Sam climbed up on the foot of the pedestal and leaned over the basin。 The water looked hard and dark。 Stars were reflected in it。
'There's only stars； as I thought；' he said。 Then he gave a low gasp； for the stars went out。 As if a dark veil had been withdrawn； the Mirror grew grey； and then clear。 There was sun shining； and the branches of trees were waving and tossing in the wind。 But before Sam could make up his mind what it was that he saw； the light faded； and now he thought he saw Frodo with a pale face lying fast asleep under a great dark cliff。 Then he seemed to see himself going along a dim passage； and climbing an endless winding stair。 It came to him suddenly that he was looking urgently for something； but what it was he did not know。 Like a dream the vision shifted and went back； and he saw the trees again。 But this time they were not so close； and he could see what was going on： they were not waving in the wind； they were falling； crashing to the ground。
'Hi！' cried Sam in an outraged voice。 'There's that Ted Sandyman a cutting down trees as he shouldn't。 They didn't ought to be felled： it's that avenue beyond the Mill that shades the road to Bywater。 I wish I could get at Ted； and I'd fell him！'
But now Sam noticed that the Old Mill had vanished； and a large redbrick building was being put up where it had stood。 Lots of folk were busily at work。 There was a tall red chimney nearby。 Black smoke seemed to cloud the surface of the Mirror。
'There's some devilry at work in the Shire；' he said。 'Elrond knew what he was about when he wanted to send Mr。 Merry back。' Then suddenly Sam gave a cry and sprang away。 'I can't stay here；' he said wildly。 'I must go home。 They've dug up Bagshot Row； and there's the poor old gaffer going down the Hill with his bits of things on a barrow。 I must go home！'
'You cannot go home alone；' said the Lady。 'You did not wish to go home without your master before you looked in the Mirror； and yet you knew that evil things might well be happening in the Shire。 Remember that the Mirror shows many things； and not all have yet e to pass。 Some never e to be； unless those that behold the visions turn aside from their path to prevent them。 The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds。'
Sam sat on the ground and put his head in his hands。 'I wish I had never e here； and I don't want to see no more magic；' he said and fell silent。 After a moment he spoke again thickly； as if struggling with tears。 'No； I'll go home by the long road with Mr。 Frodo； or not at all；' he said。 'But I hope I do get back some day。 If what I've seen turns out true； somebody's going to catch it hot！'
'Do you now wish to look； Frodo？ ' said the Lady Galadriel。 'You did not wish to see Elfmagic and were content。'
'Do you advise me to look？ ' asked Frodo。
'No；' she said。 'I do not counsel you one way or the other。 I am not a counsellor。 You may learn something； and whether what you see be fair or evil； that may be profitable； and yet it may not。 Seeing is both good and perilous。 Yet I think； Frodo； that you have courage and wisdom enough for the venture； or I would not have brought you here。 Do as you will！'
'I will look；' said Frodo； and he climbed on the pedestal and bent over the dark water。 At once the Mirror cleared and he saw a twilit land。 Mountains loomed dark in the distance against a pale sky。 A long grey road wound back out of sight。 Far away a figure came slowly down the road； faint and small at first； but growing larger and clearer as it approached。 Suddenly Frodo realized that it reminded him of Gandalf。 He almost called aloud the wizard's name； and then he saw that the figure was clothed not in grey but in white； in a white that shone faintly in the dusk； and in its hand there was a white staff。 The head was so bowed that he could see no face； and presently the figure turned aside round a bend in the road and went out of the Mirror's view。 Doubt came into Frodo's mind： was this a vision of Gandalf on one of his many lonely journeys long ago； or was it Saruman？
The vision now changed。 Brief and small but very vivid he caught a glimpse of Bilbo walking restlessly about his room。 The table was littered with disordered papers； rain was beating on the windows。
Then there was a pause； and after it many swift scenes followed that Frodo in some way knew to be parts of a great history in which he had bee involved。 The mist cleared and he saw a sight which he had never seen before but knew at once： the Sea。 Darkness fell。 The sea rose and raged in a great storm。 Then he saw against the Sun； sinking bloodred into a wrack of clouds； the black outline of a tall ship with torn sails riding up out of the West。 Then a wide river flowing through a populous city。 Then a white fortress with seven towers。 And then again a ship with black sails； but now it was morning again； and the water rippled with light； and a banner bearing the emblem of a white tree shone in the sun。 A smoke as of fire and battle arose； and again the sun went down in a burning red that faded into a grey mist； and into the mist a small ship passed away； twinkling with lights。 It vanished； and Frodo sighed and prepared to draw away。
But suddenly the Mirror went altogether dark； as dark as if a hole had opened in the world of sight； and Frodo looked into emptiness。 In the black abyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew。 until it filled nearly all the Mirror。 So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted； unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze。 The Eye was rimmed with fire； but was itself glazed； yellow as a cat's； watchful and intent； and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit； a window into nothing。
Then the Eye began to rove； searching this way and that； and Frodo knew with certainty and horror that among the many things that it sought he himself was one。 But he also knew that it could not see himnot yet； not unless he willed it。 The Ring that hung upon its