Sentence:  Their spirits had risen a little at the discovery of the path, but now they sank into their boots; and yet they would not give it up and go away. The hobbit was no longer much <WSD>brighter</WSD> than the dwarves. He would do nothing but sit with his back to the rock-face and starenb.... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Happy, in good spirits.