Meagre ablutions, such as they were, were performed in the "living room," a bucket of water serving as a general wash-basin.

No one had removed his clothing during the night, not even his shoes.

It seemed to her that the gang was in an ever-ready condition to evacuate the place at a moment's notice.
Rosalie would not eat, nor would she bathe her face in the water that had been used by the quartette before her.

Bill Briggs, with some sense of delicacy in his nature, brought some fresh water from the far end of the passageway.

For this act he was reviled by his companions.
"It's no easy job to get water here, Briggs," roared Sam.