While the Name-Day celebration (in honor of "Natasha") continues at the Rostov estate in Moscow, the children of the household make an appearance.

A door bursts open to the Drawing Room (a room commonly near the front of a mansion where guests are entertained), and Natasha Rostov, 13, leads the way. She appears to be a natural leader and radiates confidence. She is followed by her brother Nikolai as well as Boris and Sonya (15). Sonya is Count Rostov's niece. Pulling up the rear (and noticeably younger) is little Petya Rostov. Natasha is warmly welcomed by her father and tolerated by her mother. She is clearly her father's special "pet." There was a general feeling that kids should be kept in more private quarters and away from the guests.

The host, Ilya Rostov, is a warm man and happy to see the children. With the kids entering the domain of the adults, each has a different level of comfort. Boris and Nikolai are the same age, somewhere from 15-18 (but the ages lack consistency in the novel), and grew up together. Boris is quite comfortable among the adults while Nikolai is not. Boris is polished in his presentation while Nikolai can never find the right words. This is the same Boris who was recently accepted into the Imperial Guards. Nikolai is described as an "undergraduate," namely a student of some type. Russia was going through a period of educational reform as in 1802 a Minister of Education was appointed to adopt an educational system based upon French and English models.

There is some small talk about Natasha's old doll - nicknamed "Mimi." Boris was explaining the doll's history to the adults - that it was about five years old and looked quite raggedy. He remembered how the doll received most of her major defects. Natasha may have been a bit embarrassed at this subject and left. Boris helped arrange a carriage for his mother and then pursued Natasha.

The chapter shows that the young Rostovs are at the point they are ready to put away childish things like dolls.