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Sonia knew that this would comfort Katerina Ivanovna, would

flatter her and gratify her pride. She sat down beside

Raskolnikov; she made him a hurried bow, glancing curiously at

him. But for the rest of the time she seemed to avoid looking at

him or speaking to him. She seemed absent-minded, though she kept

looking at Katerina Ivanovna, trying to please her. Neither she

nor Katerina Ivanovna had been able to get mourning; Sonia was

wearing dark brown, and Katerina Ivanovna had on her only dress,

a dark striped cotton one.

The message from Pyotr Petrovitch was very successful. Listening

to Sonia with dignity, Katerina Ivanovna inquired with equal

dignity how Pyotr Petrovitch was, then at once whispered almost

aloud to Raskolnikov that it certainly would have been strange

for a man of Pyotr Petrovitch's position and standing to find

himself in such "extraordinary company," in spite of his devotion

to her family and his old friendship with her father.