{What shall I ask?} (Ti ait(8873)(936d)ai;). The fact that she
went and spoke to her mother proves that she had not been told
beforehand what to ask.  Mt 14:8  does not necessarily mean that,
but he simply condenses the account. The girl's question implies
by the middle voice that she is thinking of something for
herself. She was no doubt unprepared for her mother's ghastly
reply.