When they were ready , one of the king 's special servants entered , and took them into a small hall , where dinner was laid , and this pleased them better than anything else . They were just about to sit down to the table when the king walked in . ' I hope you have been attended to properly , ' said he , ` and that you will enjoy your dinner . My steward will take care you have all you want , and I wish you to do exactly as you please . 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 XXXXX say ' I knew it , ' though this neither the charcoal-burner nor his wife ever noticed .
For at by if into of on than that to