'Were there ever two people so unhappy!' said a woman's voice.
'Here we are, ready to work like slaves the whole day long, and
no work can we get. And it is all because of the curiosity of old
mother Eve! If she had only been like me, who never want to know
anything, we should all have been as happy as kings to-day, with
plenty to eat, and warm clothes to wear. Why--' but at this point
a loud knock interrupted her lamentations.

'Who is there?' asked she.

'I!' replied somebody.

'And who is "I"?'

'The king. Let me in.'

Full of surprise the woman jumped up and pulled the bar away from
the door. As the king entered, he noticed that there was no
furniture in the room at all, not even a chair, so he pretended
to be in too great a hurry to see anything around him, and only
said 'You must not let me disturb you. I have no time to stay,
but you seemed to be in trouble. Tell me; are you very unhappy?'

'Oh, my lord, we can find no work and have eaten nothing for two
days!' answered she. 'Nothing remains for us but to die of
hunger.'

'No, no, you shan't do that,' cried the king, 'or if you do, it
will be your own fault. You shall come with me into my palace,