Chapter 1
In the past two years, Prince Andrew has remained in the country, taking care of his estates and actually succeeding in the things Pierre has intended to do. He is one of the first to free all of the serfs on one estate and hire them instead, and he hires a priest to teach the children (Pierre's priest was basically kidnapping the children until bribed to give them back). He's kept up to date with world politics, and finds that he is generally more informed than the occasional visitor from St Petersburg. He's also conducting a critical survey of the last two Russian campaigns and drawing up a proposal for reform of the army rules and regulations.
One day, he is riding out to the Ryazan estates, which technically belong to Baby Nikolai, but he is a toddler. The driver comments on the lovely spring, but Andrew notices an oak tree, hundreds of years old, which barely seems to notice the change of seasons. It reminds him that he must be like the oak tree - never beginning anything new, just enduring, "content to do no harm, and not disturbing himself or desiring anything". That's quite interesting coming at the end of a chapter listing all the things he's been doing - he seems to think they don't count, because they're not done in society.
Chapter 2
Prince Andrew needs to go see Count Ilya Rostov because he's the marshal of the nobility for the district in connection with the affairs of the Ryazan estate. Basically, he needs to consult with him on what he wants to do or what needs doing, or whatever, with his son's estate. He goes to see him a little later, in May. It's dusty and hot, and Andrew is depressed. He sees some pretty girls playing in the sun and is even more depressed, thinking of how happy and carefree they are compared to him.
Not much has changed for Count Ilya Rostov, but Andrew is constantly distracted by Natasha, for the same reason as the girl he saw on the road distracted him. He can't sleep that night, so he opens his window and heads out to the balcony. He hears Sonya and Natasha, Natasha enjoying the lovely night and talking about how she feels like she might just fly away. He knows that for her, he might as well not exist. He experiences a "unexpected turmoil of youthful thoughts and hopes", then goes back inside and falls peacefully asleep.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Andrew sees the old Count and then immediately sets off home without seeing anyone else. In early June, he comes across the same old oak tree he saw two chapters ago. It's now covered in foliage, and he can't see the gnarled branches and old scars he saw last time. Presumably, this is a metaphor for Prince Andrew's own mind. When he realises it's the same tree, all the best moments of his life flash before his eyes. This includes nearly dying at Austerlitz, his dead wife's reproachful face, Pierre, and Natasha. I feel like "best" isn't the most fitting translation here. Andrew decides that life does not, in fact, end at 31, and that he must share his vibrant soul with everyone.
At home, he suddenly thinks of lots of reasons why it's very important and logical that he goes to St Petersburg in the autumn, and maybe even rejoins the service. He has completely forgotten all the logical reasons he had before, about why it was very important to live a life removed. He's now finding that very dull, and the portrait of Lise now looks merry and inquisitive, not reproachful. He's not pleasant while working out all these thoughts he's having, about Pierre, fame, Natasha, the oak trees, and the beauty and love of women. He's stern and unpleasantly logical when disturbed, which basically has Maria internally rolling her eyes at him.
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