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 burst open to the Drawing Room (a room near the front of an estate where guests are entertained), and Natasha Rostov, 13, leads the way. She appears to be a natural leader and is full of confidence. She is followed by her brother Nikolai, and extended family Boris and Sonya (15). Sonya is the County's niece. Pulling up the rear, and noticeably younger is little Petya Rostov. Natasha is welcomed by her father and tolerated by her mother. She is her father's special "pet." There was a general feeling that kids should be kept in more private quarters away from the guests.

The host, Ilya Rostov, is a warm man and is 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, about 15, and grew up together. Boris is quite comfortable among the adults while Nikolai is not so much. 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 an old doll of Natasha's - nicknamed "Mimi." Boris was explaining the doll's history to the adults - that it was about 5 years old and looked it. He remembered how it got most of her major defects. Natasha may have been a bit embarrassed by this and left. Boris helped arrange a carriage for his mother, and then pursued Natasha.

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