Taro had his in his hand.

"I beat!" Taro called to her.

"You haven't got your sash on yet," Take called back.

"You haven't either," said Taro.

"We both of us didn't beat then," said Take. "Come here and I'll
tie yours for you."

Taro backed up to Take, and she tied his sash in a twinkling.

Then she held up her sash. "Now, you tie mine for me, Taro," she
said.

"Wait until Mother can help you," said Taro. "Boys shouldn't do
girls' work."

"Oh, please, Taro," said Take. "I tied yours for you. I don't
see why you can't tie mine for me!"

"Well, you know what Father said," Taro answered. "He said you
are a girl and must mind me. You get Mother to do it."

"He said you should be kind and noble, too," said Take. "It
would be kind and noble of you to tie my sash, because I'm just
suffering to have it tied." She looked at him sidewise. "Please
do," she said.