can be heard all through a house that has only paper walls, you
see.

But every one is supposed to get up at sunrise in the little
house in the garden, anyway.

The maids were stirring as soon as Grannie called them. They
rolled back the shutters around the porch and made so much noise
in doing it that Father and Mother woke up too.

Then the Twins didn't keep so quiet any more. "I'll beat you
dressing," Take said to Taro.

She ran to the bathroom to wash her face and hands, and Taro ran
to wash his in a little brass basin on the porch.

"Be sure you wash behind your ears, Taro," Take called to him.
"And it's no fair unless you brush your teeth hard!"

Taro didn't say anything. His toothbrush was in his mouth, and
there wasn't room for words too. So he just scrubbed away as
hard as he could. Then he ran back to his room and dressed so
quickly that he was all done and out in the garden before Take
began to put on her little kimono! You see, all Taro's clothes
opened in front, and there wasn't a single button to do up; so
he could do it all himself--all but the sash which tied round
his waist and held everything together. Take always tied this
for him.

When Take came out into the garden she had her sash in her hand.