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The golden-haired girl (whose name was, in passing, Marigold Baker) found many people whom she could ask, but she did not know if she should. None of them seemed personages of authority who would be able to instruct her correctly. She supposed she could simply jump into the midst of the work, but moving tables seemed too heavy a task. The sound of music drifted to her, and for a moment she swayed and thought she would go listen, but then she determined herself to help, if only she found the right one to ask.
Marigold knew a kitchen door when she saw one. It was the only door she had used at her home, because it was the only door where she would find her mother directly on the other side. She recognized this door as a kitchen door, and it occurred to her that perhaps someone inside would know how she might help. Cautiously she opened the door and peeked in, and then she withdrew quickly, her cheeks flushing and her eyes bright, yet shy. Why, there was a tall beautiful lady in there! Marigold had never seen one of the woman Big Folk before, and there was one just through the kitchen door, fairer than anyone Marigold had ever seen, and with the sweetest smile and laugh.
"I should be much too shy to go in there," Marigold murmured to herself. "It's such an odd thing; I've never been too shy before. Oh, but isn't she beautiful! She has the most beautiful face I have ever seen, except for my mother's face." She cast a look over her shoulder. "I'm glad Mr. Headstrong isn't here to see. He'd say something horribly... dampening. He doesn't seem a bad hobbit but he's so very... very... depressing. He'd moan that there were Big Folk here and never notice how beautiful she is. Why, she reminds me of moonlight and starlight and sunlight, and all the beautiful things I know of." Marigold opened the door a crack again and peered in again. "How beautiful she is!" she sighed, and, closing the door, she sat down beside it. She didn't dare go in, a bold and haughty lass who thought she had every right to speak with Big Folk, but wouldn't it be nice if the beautiful lady came out and smiled at her as she went by? "No doubt it would," said Marigold, laughing and recalling Mr. Headstrong, standing at the other door. "No doubt!"
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