- For the first time, we get a chapter entirely focused on Karenin and Anna's son, Seryozha. After coming back from a walk, Seryozha gossips with the hall porter for a bit. The hall porter is an old man named Kapitonych.
- Seryozha is in a great mood. Tomorrow is his birthday. He's also proud that his father has received the Alexander Nevsky award.
- Seryozha has a difficult time with his lessons, probably because he's distracted by other things. He's fascinated by his father's official honors, and starts day-dreaming about how awesome it would be if his father received the two awards above the Alexander Nevsky.
- He wonders at the grand adult conspiracy that makes them all repeat the same dull, useless information. His tutor is thinking of other things while he's repeating Seryozha's lessons, and Seryozha wonders sadly why the tutor doesn't seem to care about him.