The section opens with Levin surrounded by guests at his estate. Dolly and her children have come for the summer, as has his brother Sergei and Kitty’s friend Varenka. Sergei is impressed with Varenka’s intellect and calm temperament, and the guests begin to believe he may propose to her. The women discuss proposals as they make jam, and Kitty recalls that Levin still resents her past with Vronsky.

Dolly reflects that at the time, Anna functioned as her savior, but now Kitty is the one happily married. Kitty’s mother still dislikes Levin. On a walk together, Levin and Kitty discuss Sergei and Varenka and their mutual mourning for Nikolai. Levin admits that though he envies his brother’s devotion to social causes, he is too happy to regret his new domestic life.

Alone with Varenka, Sergei is struck by her manner and her serenity—especially in their woodland surroundings. But he loses his nerve, realizing he cannot betray the memory of his lost youthful love.

The family atmosphere is generally tense when Oblonsky arrives with a distant Scherbatsky cousin, Vasenka Veslovsky, who flirts with Kitty. He also resents Oblonsky acting like a doting husband in public, knowing his friend remains unfaithful.