At the end of Tatyana’s name day party, Onegin leaves for home. He reflects on the way such events bore him and feels his “old ennui” (6.1.3) return. Meanwhile, Tatyana stays up while her family is asleep. She ruminates on the distressing party. The next day, Onegin is visited by a man named Zaretsky. In the community, Zaretsky has a reputation for being something of a reformed “rowdy clown” (6.4.7) and a big fan of duels. He brings a note to Onegin from Lensky. In the note, Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel. Onegin feels honor bound to accept, but, when he thinks about his actions with Olga and his friendship with Lensky, he feels very guilty and believes that he was “at fault” (6.10.4).

Lensky worries that Onegin would not take him seriously, but he is pleased when Onegin accepts his challenge. Lensky does not want to see Olga before he duels Onegin, as he is convinced that she was playing with his affections for her at the party. However, he is overcome by his passion. He feels the need to see Olga so he visits the Larin house. When he sees Olga, his fears abandon him. She looks at him with a sincere and honest expression in her eyes that assures him that she loves him.