8 FAIRY TALES
and said to her, “Sister Anne, (for that was her name) go up, I beg you, upon the tower, and look if my brothers are not coming: they promised me, that they would come to-day; and if you see them give them a sign to make haste.” Her sister Anne went up upon the top of the tower, and the poor afflicted wife, called from time to time, “Anne, sister Anne, do you see any one coming?” and sister Anne said, “I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass which looks green.” In the mean while, Blue Beard, holding a great scymitar in his hand, cried out as loud as he could, “Come down instantly, or 1 shall come up to you.” “One moment longer, if you please,” said his wife; and then she cried out very softly, “Anne, sister Anne, dost thou sec any body coming? and sister Anne answered, “I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass looking green.” “Come down quickly, cried Blue Beard, or I will come up to you.” “I am coming,” answered his wife; and then she cried, “Anne, sister Anne, dost thou see any one coming?” “I see, replied her sister Anne, a great dust which comes from this side here.” “Are they my brothers?” “Alas no, my sister, I see a flock of sheep.” “Will you not come down,” cried Blue Beard. “One moment longer, said his wife; and then she cried out, “Anne, sister Anne, dost thou see nobody coming.” “I see two horsemen coming, but they are yet a great way off.” “God be praised, replied the poor wife joyfully, they are my brothers; I am making them a sign as well as I can, for them to make haste” Then Blue Beard bawled out so loud that he made the whole house tremble.
The distressed wife came down and threw herself at his feet all in tears, with her hair all about her shoulders. “ This signifies nothing, said Blue Beard, you must die.” Then taking hold of her hair with
