- Since Dolly's own country house is still in ruins, she and the children are staying with Kitty and Levin.
- Kitty's mother Princess Shcherbatsky is also staying with them, since she considers it her duty to help out during Kitty's first pregnancy.
- Furthermore, Varenka (Kitty's thoughtful friend from the spa) kept her promise and is visiting Kitty.
- The house is packed with Shcherbatskys.
- Koznyshev (Levin's intellectual half-brother) is also staying the summer.
- At dinner, the whole family discusses a mushroom hunting expedition.
- Koznyshev surprises everyone by asking to go along. He looks at Varenka as he says this.
- Kitty and Dolly make eye contact, both thinking the same thing.
- Koznyshev goes mushroom hunting with Varenka.
- Kitty whispers to her friend that she will be happy if a certain event comes to fruition.