[ Bilbo's own smile drops slightly at that, but all he says, rather matter-of-factly, is: ]

Well, now. We can't have that, can we? [ and then, briskly, he's back to his usual self. ] Now, you'll have to forgive me if my pronunciation is awful, but let me see... "ma serannas", was it?

[ it's a little halting, but he repeats it as best he can, trying to get a feel for the language. ]