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to her eldest girl； Polenka； a child of ten； who； though there was
much she did not understand； understood very well that her mother
needed her； and so always watched her with her big clever eyes and
strove her utmost to appear to understand。 This time Polenka was
undressing her little brother； who had been unwell all day and was
going to bed。 The boy was waiting for her to take off his shirt； which
had to be washed at night。 He was sitting straight and motionless on a
chair； with a silent； serious face； with his legs stretched out
straight before him… heels together and toes turned out。
He was listening to what his mother was saying to his sister；
sitting perfectly still with pouting lips and wide…open eyes； just
as all good little boys have to sit when they are undressed to go to
bed。 A little girl； still younger； dressed literally in rags； stood at
the screen； waiting for her turn。 The door on to the stairs was open
to relieve them a little from the clouds of tobacco smoke which
floated in from the other rooms and brought on long terrible fits of
coughing in the poor； consumptive woman。 Katerina Ivanovna seemed to
have grown even thinner during that week and the hectic flush on her
face was brighter than ever。
〃You wouldn't believe； you can't imagine； Polenka；〃 she said；
walking about the room； 〃what a happy luxurious life we had in my
papa's house and how this drunkard has brought me； and will bring
you all； to ruin！ Papa was a civil colonel and only a step from
being a governor； so that every one who came to see him said； 'We look
upon you； Ivan Mihailovitch； as our governor！' When I。。。 when。。。〃
she coughed violently； 〃oh； cursed life；〃 she cried； clearing her
throat and pressing her hands to her breast； 〃when I。。。 when at the
last ball。。。 at the marshal's。。。 Princess Bezzemelny saw me… who
gave me the blessing when your father and I were married； Polenka… she
asked at once 'Isn't that the pretty girl who donced the shawl dance
at the breaking up？' （You must mend that tear； you must take your
needle and darn it as I showed you； or to…morrow… cough； cough； cough…
he will make the hole bigger；〃 she articulated with effort。） 〃Prince
Schegolskoy； a kammerjunker； had just come from Petersburg then。。。
he danced the mazurka with me and wanted to make me an offer next day；
but I thanked him in flattering expressions and told him that my heart
had long been another's。 That other was your father； Polya； papa was
fearfully angry。。。。 Is the water ready？ Give me the shirt； and the
stockings！ Lida；〃 said she to the youngest one； 〃you must manage
without your chemise to…night。。。 and lay your stockings out with it。。。
I'll wash them together。。。。 How is it that drunken vagabond doesn't
come in？ He has worn his shirt till it looks like a dishclout； he
has torn it to rags！ I'd do it all together； so as not to have to work
two nights running！ Oh； dear！ （Cough； cough； cough； cough！） Again！
What's this？〃 she cried； noticing a crowd in the passage and the men
who were pushing into her room； carrying a burden。 〃What is it？ What
are they bringing？ Mercy on us！〃
〃Where are we to put him？〃 asked the policeman； looking round when
Marmeladov； unconscious and covered with blood； had been carried in。
〃On the sofa！ Put him straight on the sofa； with his head this way；〃
Raskolnikov showed him。
〃Run over in the road！ Drunk！〃 some one shouted in the passage。
Katerina Ivanovna stood； turning white and gasping for breath。 The
children were terrified。 Little Lida screamed； rushed to Polenka and
clutched at her； trembling all over。
Having laid Marmeladov down； Raskolnikov flew to Katerina Ivanovna。
〃For God's sake be calm； don't be frightened！〃 he said； speaking
quickly； 〃he was crossing the road and was run over by a carriage；
don't be frightened； he will come to； I told them bring him here。。。
I've been here already； you remember？ He will come to； I'll pay！〃
〃He's done it this time！〃 Katerina Ivanovna cried despairingly and
she rushed to her husband。
Raskolnikov noticed at once that she was not one of those women
who swoon easily。 She instantly placed under the luckless man's head a
pillow； which no one had thought of and began undressing and examining
him。 She kept her head； forgetting herself； biting her trembling
lips and stifling the screams which were ready to break from her。
Raskolnikov meanwhile induced some one to run for a doctor。 There
was a doctor； it appeared； next door but one。
〃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 begun
washing the blood off Marmeladov's face。
Katerina Ivanovna stood by； breathing painfully and pressing her
hands to her breast。 She was in need of attention herself。 Raskolnikov
began to realise that he might have made a mistake in having the
injured man brought here。 The policeman； too； stood in hesitation。
〃Polenka；〃 cried Katerina Ivanovna； 〃run to Sonia； make haste。 If
you don't find her at home； leave word that her father has been run
over and that she is to come here at once。。。 when she comes in。 Run；
Polenka！ there