- Mrs. Archer and Newland pay a visit to Mrs. van der Luyden in order to explain how everybody snubbed the Lovell Mingotts's invitation to meet Countess Olenska.
- Mrs. van der Luyden calls in her husband to weigh in on the matter.
- Mr. van der Luyden is appalled to learn that Lawrence Lefferts seems to have persuaded everybody to snub Countess Olenska. Mr. van der Luyden stands on the principle that if Countess Olenska is backed up by her family, no one has a right to snub her.
- Mr. and Mrs. van der Luyden decide to invite Countess Olenska to a dinner at their place to meet their cousin, the Duke of St. Austrey. Such an invitation is a high honor and would cement her position in society.
- Later that evening at the opera, Mr. Sillerton Jackson shares with everyone the news that Countess Olenska has been invited to the van der Luydens's. Lefferts is miffed.