The old princess and her two daughters are on the terrace while the others are out hunting for mushrooms. They enjoy sitting there after dinner where they knit and sew baby clothes, a task which is keeping them all busy these days. This afternoon, Agafea Mihalovna is also making jam on the terrace. She has to do this job in the ladies’ presence because she refused to make jam using the method which Kitty always used in her home. Now, to prove that the method works, in their presence the housekeeper is angrily stirring the raspberries over the charcoal stove and hoping they would not cook properly.

While the jam is being made and the women are watching stealthily, they talk about what gifts they give their servants. The old princess says she always buys her maids dresses, made of cheap material, of course. Dolly says her husband believes it is better to give money, but Kitty interrupts to say that money is out of the question and they appreciate an actual gift. After checking on the jam, the women continue their conversation (in French, so they will not be understood). Kitty hopes the matter of Varenka will be decided today. Dolly teases her about being an extraordinary matchmaker, but her mother is not convinced. Sergey Ivanovitch can still make a fine match anywhere in Russia, even though he is getting older, and the old princess wonders if he could do better than Varenka.

Kitty argues that Varenka is charming in every way, and Sergey Ivanovitch is in the enviable position of being able to marry for love rather than money or position. All he needs is a good, sweet, restful wife; she thinks that Varenka is perfect for him because she loves him. The subject then turns to how a man makes an offer, and just the thought makes Dolly smile at her own betrothal. When the daughters ask how their father asked for her hand in marriage, the old princess beamed with remembered pleasure. She says it was no different then than it is now: “it was settled by the eyes, by smiles.”

All three women sit musing in silence until Kitty remarks that she wished she would have had a chance to warn Sergey Ivanovitch about Varenska’s old love affair, as men are often quite jealous of past loves. After a brief, painful discussion of Vronsky, the women talk about poor Anna Karenina. Dolly is particularly sympathetic about her situation.

Levin arrives and their conversation stops, and he understands that they had been talking about something they did not want him to hear. Again he feels like an outsider from the Shtcherbatsky element. Levin is going to bring the carriage around so they can pick up the mushroom-hunting party, but Kitty decides to walk with him instead. Seeing his housekeeper’s consternation, he tries to console her; Kitty sees his motive and praises her pickle. Agafea Mihalovna wants to remain angry but cannot, as she knows Kitty has made her master happy. They invite her to join them in the carriage, and the old princess says the jam will keep.