Summary
Dolly, unhappy with her own run-down estate, moves in
with Levin and Kitty for the summer. Kitty’s friend Varenka and
Levin’s half-brother, Sergei, are also present. Sergei is friendly
despite the others’ awe of his fame. Dolly and Kitty even discuss
the possibility of setting him up with Varenka. Levin is skeptical
of this idea, explaining that Sergei is used to a spiritual life
whereas Varenka is more earthy. Levin tells Kitty that he envies
Sergei, who lives for duty and thus can reach satisfaction. Kitty
asks why Levin is not satisfied himself. Levin mentions his work
frustrations but affirms he is happy overall.
Sergei and Varenka do indeed like each other greatly,
and Sergei fantasizes about proposing marriage. One day, the two
go out picking mushrooms together, and both of them suddenly realize
Sergei is on the verge of proposing. At the last minute, however,
he is unable to bring himself to do so, as he wishes to be loyal
to the memory of a deceased lover from his youth. The opportunity
gone, Sergei and Varenka both realize they will never marry each
other.
One day, Stiva arrives with a friend, the handsome Veslovsky. Stiva
mentions that Veslovsky has visited Anna. Dolly asserts that she
will visit Anna too, though Kitty is reluctant to go. Veslovsky flirts
with Kitty, which makes Levin insanely jealous. Levin and Kitty
quarrel and Levin apologizes, promising to make Veslovsky feel welcome
on their hunting trip the next day.
Setting out with Stiva and Veslovsky, Levin is ashamed
of his earlier anger, for he now finds Veslovsky comical and good-natured. But
once they begin hunting, the presence of the somewhat hapless Veslovsky
again bothers Levin, distracting him and causing him to shoot badly.
The others bag far more game, and Levin’s irritation grows. Veslovsky
stupidly sets his gun off accidentally and gets their cart stuck
in a marsh.
The men discuss a railroad magnate neighbor whose fortune Levin
disdains, considering it ill gotten, the product of financial tricks,
not hard work. Stiva mocks Levin for being a nobleman who does not
work for his fortune, and Levin is irked. Levin goes to bed frustrated,
while the other two go off in pursuit of farm girls, which Stiva
says is acceptable as long as his wife does not find out.
Waking early the next morning, Levin goes off hunting
alone. His dog flushes out several enormous snipe, which Levin kills
effortlessly. Delighted, Levin returns hours later with nineteen
birds. His joy disperses, however, when he learns that Stiva and
Veslovsky have eaten all the food. Kitty then discusses her need
to go to Moscow to see an obstetrician. Levin initially resists,
believing doctors to be unnecessary, but finally assents. Veslovsky
engages Kitty in a conversation about whether love can be above
social conventions, but she finds his tone objectionable. Kitty
and Levin quarrel and make up once more. Finally, Levin, again annoyed
at Veslovsky’s flirtation with Kitty, kicks him out of the house,
despite his awareness that such an action is ungracious.
