Meeting in the salon, Dolly sits with her children while wrestling with the mixed emotions of awaiting a visit from her sister-in-law Anna. Although she had previously told her husband that Anna's arrival did not matter, Dolly secretly appreciates the presence of someone from outside her immediate circle of grief, despite fearing condescending Christian consolations. When Anna arrives, she immediately demonstrates genuine affection and a remarkable memory for the children's names and ages, quickly putting Dolly at ease and breaking down her initial coldness.
Once left alone together, Anna gently shares that her brother, Stepan Arkadyevitch, has already spoken with her about the crisis. Rather than offering empty sympathy, Anna expresses deep, heartfelt pain for Dolly and takes her hand, prompting Dolly to recount the painful history of her marriage. Dolly explains how she entered the union in absolute innocence, entirely unaware of any possibility of infidelity, which made the discovery of her husband's affair with the children's former governess an unendurable and cruel shock that shattered her faith and left her filled with consuming hatred.
Anna listens with profound empathy, acknowledging the immense suffering of her sister-in-law while offering insights into the minds of men like Stiva, suggesting that such infidelities do not diminish a wife's status as a sacred object in her husband's eyes. Though Dolly insists that she can never forgive or forget the humiliation and the loss of her youth, Anna gently guides her through the difficult questions of whether she still loves him. By the end of their conversation, comforted by Anna's genuine understanding and unwavering support, Dolly feels significantly less burdened and embraces her visitor with gratitude.