"Isn't it usually like that, though?" Bilbo replied with a smile. "Sometimes the thing that appears like it's the closest, is actually a long distance away. And sometimes the thing that seems like it is the farthest away, is within arm's reach if you just reach out and grasp it." He didn't suppose then, judging by her answer, that there were any other hobbits nearby. Oh, that was all right. Bilbo was quite used to being the lone hobbit in a crew of dwarves or the odd hobbit out even amongst his own kind.
"Ah, but that's a story for another time." He patted his knee briefly, then held out the pipe to her as a friendly gesture. "I'm not certain of the traditions in this world, Miss Violet, but do you smoke? This weed is quite good, made from the Shire still. I've got to be careful with how much I use though, as I imagine it might be quite difficult to obtain some here." He laughed softly. "If only Gandalf were here. I'm sure he'd have the answers for us."