The Old Woman Takes the Pledge

'You can't help getting pale, if you've nothing to eat,' Raskolnikov told the old woman. 'But what has he tied it up like this for?' The old woman cried with vexation and moved towards him. He pulled the axe quite out, swung it with both arms, scarcely conscious of himself. And almost without effort, almost mechanically, brought the blunt side down on her head.'