Oh , by the bye , there is one thing ! You notice that soup-tureen in the middle of the table ? Well , be careful on no account to lift the lid . If once you take off the cover , there is an end of your good fortune . ' Then , bowing to his guests , he left the room . ` Did you hear what he said ? ' inquired the charcoal-burner in an awe-stricken voice . ` We are to have what we want , and do what we please . Only we must not touch the soup-tureen . ' ` No , of course we wo n't , ' answered the wife . ` Why should we wish to ? But all the same it is rather odd , and one ca n't help wondering what is inside . ' For many days life went on like a beautiful dream to the charcoal-burner and his wife . Their beds were so comfortable , they could hardly make up their minds to get up , their clothes were so lovely they could scarcely bring themselves to take them off ; their dinners were so good that they found it very difficult to leave off eating . Then outside the palace were gardens filled with rare flowers and fruits and singing birds , or if they desired to go further , a golden coach , painted with wreaths of forget-me-nots and lined with blue satin , awaited their orders . Sometimes it happened that the king came to see them , and he smiled as he glanced at the man , who was getting rosier and plumper each day . But when his eyes rested on the woman , they took on a look which seemed to say ' I knew it , ' though this neither the charcoal-burner nor his wife ever noticed . ` Why are you so silent ? ' asked the man one morning when dinner had passed before his wife had uttered one word . ' 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 XXXXX talk , that was all ! '
For as at before by if of though to with