` My sister ! but she is coal black ! ' ` That may be , but she is your sister for all that . ' The young man asked no more questions , but took them into the castle , and he himself waited outside till his brothers came home . As soon as they were alone , the negro whispered to Udea , ` If you dare to tell your brothers that I made you walk , or that I smeared you with pitch , I will kill you . ' ` Oh , I will be sure to say nothing , ' replied the girl , trembling , and at that moment the six elder brothers appeared in sight . ' I have some good news for you , ' said the youngest , hastening to meet them ; ` our sister is here ! ' ` Nonsense , ' they answered . ` We have no sister ; you know the child that was born was a boy . ' ` But that was not true , ' replied he , ` and here she is with the negro and his wife . Only -- she too is black , ' he added softly , but his brothers did not hear him , and pushed past joyfully . ` How are you , good old Barka ? ' they said to the negro ; ` and how comes it that we never knew that we had a sister till now ? ' and they greeted Udea warmly , while she shed tears of relief and gladness . The next morning they all agreed that they would not go out hunting . And the eldest brother took Udea on his knee , and she combed his hair and talked to him of their home till the tears ran down his cheeks and dropped on her bare arm . And where the tears fell a white mark was made . Then the brother took a cloth and rubbed the place , and he saw that she was not black at all . ` Tell me , who painted you over like this ? ' cried he . '
I am afraid to tell you , ' sobbed the girl , ` the XXXXX will kill me . '
brothers cloth coal home hunting mark negro news nothing pitch