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"I've sent for a doctor," he kept assuring Katerina Ivanovna,

"don't be uneasy, I'll pay. Haven't you water?... and give me a

napkin or a towel, anything, as quick as you can.... He is

injured, but not killed, believe me.... We shall see what the

doctor says!"

Katerina Ivanovna ran to the window; there, on a broken chair in

the corner, a large earthenware basin full of water had been

stood, in readiness for washing her children's and husband's

linen that night. This washing was done by Katerina Ivanovna at

night at least twice a week, if not oftener. For the family had

come to such a pass that they were practically without change of

linen, and Katerina Ivanovna could not endure uncleanliness and,

rather than see dirt in the house, she preferred to wear herself

out at night, working beyond her strength when the rest were

asleep, so as to get the wet linen hung on a line and dry by the

morning. She took up the basin of water at Raskolnikov's request,

but almost fell down with her burden. But the latter had already

succeeded in finding a towel, wetted it and began washing the

blood off Marmeladov's face.