Levin is unlucky, for the Countess Bola is at home when he goes to call on her. In the drawing room are two of the countess’s daughters and a Moscow colonel whom Levin knows. After greeting them, Levin sits uncomfortably beside the sofa with his hat on his knees. He and the colonel discuss Kitty’s health, the death of a society woman, and the concert. When the countess arrives, they talk about the same things.

Because he does not care what anyone in this room thinks of him, he begins repeating everything they had undoubtedly already heard hundreds of time about the characteristics of the young opera star who is so much the rage at the moment. When he finally falls silent, the colonel talks about opera and culture. Finally the colonel makes one final comment, laughs, and noisily departs. Levin also rises to leave, but he can see by the countess’s face that it is not yet time for him to go. He must stay two minutes more, so he sits down again.

Because all he can think about is how ridiculous this entire proceeding is, Levin has nothing to contribute to the conversation. When the countess asks if he is going to the public meeting, he says he promised to pick up his sister-in-law from it but will not be attending it himself. There is a silence, and then the countess exchanges a look with her daughters. Levin is sure that is a sign that the time has come, so he rises to leave. The countess asks him to give her best wishes to his wife, and Levin is now almost free.

As the porter hands him his coat, he asks Levin to write his name and address in a big, handsomely bound book. Even as he thinks that this is all such a ridiculous custom and he feels stupid and ashamed at his poor showing, he immediately signs and leaves. His only consolation is knowing that this is something everyone in society does.

Levin drives to the public meeting where he is to pick up Natalia. Almost everyone from high society is at the meeting, and Levin arrives in time to hear the reading of the report, and it is as interesting as everyone had expected it to be. Afterwards, Levin meets Sviazhsky who invites him to attend a meeting of the Society of Agriculture that evening and Stepan Arkadyevitch who had just come from the races, along with many other acquaintances. Levin participates in many conversations about music, the meeting, and the public trial.

After so much small talk, Levin is mentally fatigued and makes a blunder when he talks about the trial. A foreigner has been sentenced in Russia, and Levin says it would be terribly unfair for him to be punished by exile abroad. He repeats what he heard an acquaintance say, that it would be like punishing a fish by putting it back into the water. Later, Levin remembers that his friend uttered it as his own but it came from a well known fable and his acquaintance had read it in a newspaper article.

After depositing Natalia at his house and finding Kitty in good spirits, Levin leaves for the club.