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 won't,' answered the wife. 'Why should we wish
to? But all the same it is rather odd, and one can'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.