Anna Karenina

Alexey Alexandrovitch, on coming back from church service, had spent the whole morning indoors. He had two pieces of business before him that morning; first, to receive and send on a deputation from the native tribes which was on its way to Petersburg, and now at Moscow; secondly, to write the promised letter to the lawyer." Karenin's Sunday morning is devoted to bureaucratic work and divorce planning. "The deputation, though it had been summoned at Alexey Alexandrovitch's instigation, was not without its discomforting and even dangerous aspect, and he was glad he had found it in Moscow. The members of this deputation had not the slightest conception of their duty and the part they were to play. They naïvely believed that it was their business to lay before the commission their needs and the actual condition of things, and to ask assistance of the government." The native delegates don't understand they're supposed to be puppets in a bureaucratic show. Stiva arrives and persuades Karenin to come to dinner. "'And I've still to go to Dolgovushin's! So please come round to dinner. You can't imagine how you will grieve my wife and me.' The way in which Alexey Alexandrovitch saw his brother-in-law out was very different from the manner in which he had met him. 'I've promised, and I'll come,' he answered wearily." Karenin agrees reluctantly - his manner changes from initial greeting to weary acceptance. "'Believe me, I appreciate it, and I hope you won't regret it,' answered Stepan Arkadyevitch, smiling. And, putting on his coat as he went, he patted the footman on the head, chuckled, and went out. 'At five o'clock, and not evening dress, please,' he shouted once more, turning at the door." Stiva is cheerful and treats servants familiarly, contrasting with Karenin's formality. The chapter shows Karenin being drawn out of isolation into social life.