When Onyegin returns to the capital he finds the little country girl, whose love he had scorned, one of the greatest ladies at the court and in society; and he falls madly in love with her.

Her cold indifference galls him, and increases his love.

He writes three letters, to which she does not reply.

Then he forces himself into her boudoir and finds her reading one of his letters and weeping over it.

She then confesses that she loves him still, but dismisses him with the assurance that she will remain true to her noble and loving husband.