When Vronsky returns home, Anna Karenina is not there. The servants tell him that a lady came and they left together. He is unsettled that she left without leaving word about where she was going, that she has not yet returned, and that she had gone somewhere that morning without telling him anything about it. All of these things add to his recollection of her hostile tone when they last saw one another, her grabbing the pictures of her son from his hand earlier in the day, and the strange look of excitement on her face that morning. He begins thinking seriously and decides he absolutely must speak with her openly.

Anna Karenina does not return alone. She brings with her an old, unmarried aunt with whom she had been shopping. Though she does not appear to notice his agitation, Vronsky can see that there is a kind of intense concentration in her words and movements which convey her nervousness. These nervous habits once fascinated him, but now they disturb and alarm him.

The dinner table is set and they are all about to sit when Princess Betsy’s messenger arrives. On behalf of the princess, Tushkevitch begs Anna Karenina to come to her between half-past six and nine o’clock that evening. Vronsky is immediately suspicious, for these are the hours during which she would be unlikely to meet anyone in society; but Anna Karenina apologizes and says she cannot come then. If she could get a box for the opera this evening, she says she would go; and Tushkevitch says he will procure one. Anna Karenina then invites the man to dinner.

Vronsky is at a complete loss, trying to understand what his lover is doing. He wonders why she brought her old aunt home, why she invited Tushkevitch to dinner, and most amazing of all why she wants a box for tonight. She could not possibly think that she can go to the opera, where all her former circle of acquaintances would be, given her current position in society. He looks at her seriously, but she looks back at him with a mirthful, defiant, and half-desperate look.

After dinner everyone leaves. Vronsky returns to find Anna Karenina dressing for the theater. Vronsky is alarmed and asks if she really intends to go; she misinterprets his words and asks why she should not go. They are at odds for a few moments until finally Anna Karenina exclaims that she does not want to know that her position has changed because she loves him, is miserable that they are living apart and not seeing each other, and does not for a moment regret what they have done.

Anna Karenina looks at Vronsky with peculiar gleam in her eyes which he cannot understand; she asks him why, if nothing has changed, he will not look at her. Vronsky does look at her then, and the beauty and elegance which once captivated him now irritate him. He says his feelings cannot change, but he begs her not to go tonight. She does not hear his words but she does see the coldness in his eyes. When she asks him to explain why she should not go, he hesitates and she walks away, heading for the theater.