However , long experience had taught him to let her storm and say nothing , so he lit his pipe and waited till she was tired out . The woman was still raging , and did not seem likely to stop , when her husband , who by this time had forgotten all about her , drew out the chest from under his cloak , and opened it . Oh , what a blaze met his eyes ! gold and precious stones were heaped up to the very lid , and lay dancing in he sunlight . At the sight of these wonders even the scolding tongue ceased , and the woman approached , and took the stones in her hand , setting greedily aside those that were the largest and most costly . Then her voice softened , and she begged him quite politely to tell her where he had spent his evening , and how he had come by these wonderful riches . So he told her the whole story , and she listened with amazement , till he came to the choice which had been given him between the two chests . At this her tongue broke loose again , as she abused him for his folly in taking the little one , and she never rested till her husband had described the exact way which led to the sparrow-princess 's house . When she had got it into her head , she put on her best clothes and set out at once . But in her blind haste she often missed the path , and she wandered for several hours before she at length reached the little house . She walked boldly up to the door and entered the room as if the whole place belonged to her , and quite frightened the poor girl , who was startled at the sight of her old enemy . However , she concealed her feelings as well as she could , and bade the intruder welcome , placing before her food and wine , hoping that when she had eaten and drunk she might take her leave . But nothing of the sort . ` You will not let me go without a little present ? ' said the greedy wife , as she saw no signs of one being offered her . ` Of course not , ' replied the girl , and at her orders two chests were brought in , as they had been before . The old woman instantly seized the bigger , and staggering under the weight of it , disappeared into the forest , hardly waiting even to say good-bye . It was a long way to her own house , and the chest seemed to grow heavier at every step . Sometimes she felt as if it would be impossible for her to get on at all , but her greed gave her strength , and at last she arrived at her own door . She sank down on the threshold , overcome with weariness , but in a moment was on her feet again , fumbling with the lock of the chest .
But by this time night had come , and there was no light XXXXX the house , and the woman was in too much hurry to get to her treasures , to go and look for one .
So about at before for in into of under without