In which the dampness of a rainy day brings a small assembly under the arcades, where youthful Kitty becomes enamoured with the gentle and gracious Varenka, whose kindness and quiet strength reveal themselves in a spirited defence of a fellow countryman. The princess, at first reluctant, soon follows her daughter’s inclination and makes acquaintance with this intriguing lady, whose serene manner and unassuming truth win a place in their acquaintance despite the shadows hinted in her past.