` 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 sha n't do that , ' cried the king , ` or if you do , it will be your own fault . You shall come with me into my palace , and you will feel as if you were in Paradise , I promise you . In return , I only ask one thing of you , that you shall obey my orders exactly . ' The charcoal-burner and his wife both stared at him for a moment , as if they could hardly believe their ears ; and , indeed , it was not to be wondered at ! Then they found their tongues , and exclaimed together : ` Oh , yes , yes , my lord ! we will do everything you tell us . How could we be so ungrateful as to disobey you , when you are so kind ? ' The king smiled , and his eyes twinkled .
` Well , XXXXX us start at once , ' said he .
ask die disobey disturb eaten let pretended remains see smiled