Anna Karenina rises with unconcealed pleasure to meet Levin. As she holds out her hand to him, introduces him to her other guest, and indicates a young girl in the room whom she calls her pupil, Levin recognizes and likes the manners of a well bred woman, always self-possessed and natural. Anna Karenina’s words assume a special significance for Levin. She tells him she has liked him for a long time, both for his friendship with her brother and because she thinks so highly of Kitty.

Levin feels immediately at ease with her and feels as if he is making a positive impression. Stepan Arkadyevitch and his sister share a few pleasantries as Levin continues to examine the portrait. He looks from the likeness to the original, and a “peculiar brilliance” lights Anna Karenina’s face when she feels his eyes on her.

Levin talks with Anna Karenina about his views on many things, but the conversation is nothing like any of the conversations he had participated in all morning. It is pleasant to speak to her and to listen to her, and every word seems to have a special significance. Their conversation centers on the new movement in art and the new illustrations of the Bible by a French artist. Levin believes that the French has taken conventionality further than anyone and because of that they see a great merit in returning to realism. “In the fact of not lying they see poetry.” Never has Levin been more pleased with something he has said than with this clever remark, and his hostess appreciates it, as well.

When Anna Karenina makes a remark to her brother, Levin thinks this is a magnificent woman; forgetting himself, he stares persistently at her lovely, animated face. Levin hears nothing of their conversation, but he is struck by her change of expression. Her calm look of repose suddenly becomes a look of strange curiosity, anger, and pride. This look lasts only for an instant, and then she drops her eyelids as though she is remembering something.

Anna Karenina tells Levin she has defended his lack of civic-mindedness when others have talked about it; then they begin to talk about her book. Levin sees a new trait in the woman who has “attracted him extraordinarily.” In addition to grace, wit, and beauty, she has truth. She is even beautiful when her face is hard, not radiant. Anna Karenina asks her guests to give her a moment alone with her brother, and Levin wonders if he might be the topic of their discussion.

At tea, the conversation is lively and engaging. As the conversation flows, Levin constantly admires his hostess and comes to believe that Vronsky does not understand her. At eleven o’clock, Stepan Arkadyevitch gets up to leave, and Anna Karenina asks Levin to tell Kitty that she loves her now as she always has and, if she cannot pardon her position now, Anna Karenina wishes she will never pardon it, for that would mean Kitty must go through what she has gone through. God should spare Kitty that. Levin blushes and says he will tell her.