She looked like a beautiful blossom herself in her blue silk kimono. Chrysanthemums in deep golden brown and palest pink were embroidered in the silk. Her undergarment of pink showed at the throat; and about her waist was a pink sash embroidered with blue.
That sash was Umé's delight. It was tied in an immense bow behind, and Tara had never been able to find the ends that he might pull them out and so tease his sister a little.
On her feet Umé wore black lacquer clogs and white stockings, with the great toe in a room by itself.
Her hair was carefully drawn up to the top of her head, where it was tied with a broad piece of blue crêpe, and then formed into several puffs at the back. A brilliant pink chrysanthemum pin was stuck through the puffs in one direction and a butterfly pin in the other.
Umé's pins and sashes were her dearest treasures!
The finishing touch was given to her face and lips. Rice powder made her skin look very white, and a touch of paint made her cheeks and mouth very red, although they were quite red enough before.
Her mother was wholly pleased with Umé's appearance, but Umé shook her head over the clogs; she wished for something different.
"It is time to make the honorable start to the gardens, Umé-ko!" called her mother at last, and the little girl left the flowers and took her seat in the waiting jinrikisha.
Umé was going with her mother, first to make an offering at the temple, then to look at the flowers in the gardens at Dango-Zaka.
Tara was going with his father to see the Emperor review the troops.