In which Levin, with the freshness of early spring about him and a heart full of hopeful plans, inspects his farm and wrestles with the ever-present challenges of uncooperative peasants and the stubborn state of the land after winter’s grip. Amidst the thawing fields and the renewal of nature, he finds solace in the beauty of his estate and the faithful labourers who share his vision, yet remains quietly vexed by the practical difficulties that temper his aspirations.