A little while ago you used to be chattering all the day long , and now I have almost forgotten the sound of your voice . ' ` Oh , nothing ; I did not feel inclined to talk , that was all ! ' She stopped , and added carelessly after a pause , ` Do n't you ever wonder what is in that soup-tureen ? ' ` No , never , ' replied the man . ` It is no affair of ours , ' and the conversation dropped once more , but as time went on , the woman spoke less and less , and seemed so wretched that her husband grew quite frightened about her . As to her food , she refused one thing after another . ` My dear wife , ' said the man at last , ` you really must eat something . What in the world is the matter with you ? If you go on like this you will die . ' ' I would rather die than not know what is in that tureen , ' she burst forth so violently that the husband was quite startled . ` Is that it ? ' cried he ; ` are you making yourself miserable because of that ? Why , you know we should be turned out of the palace , and sent away to starve . ' ` Oh no , we should n't . The king is too good-natured . Of course he did n't mean a little thing like this ! Besides , there is no need to lift the lid off altogether . Just raise one corner so that I may peep . We are quite alone : nobody will ever know . ' The man hesitated : it did seem a ` little thing , ' and if it was to make his wife contented and happy it was well worth the risk .
So he took hold XXXXX the handle of the cover and raised it very slowly and carefully , while the woman stooped down to peep .
Besides at if in like of than that to worth