The adults in the park enjoy the first day of spring. Confessing that he’s in love, Gherman admits that he doesn’t know her name, only that his passion for her is hopeless. Count Tomsky notices that Gherman is distracted. Two army officers, Chekalinsky and Sourin, discuss the previous evening’s gambling, during which their friend Gherman placed no bets. A troop of children playing soldiers drills.

Petersburg, governesses and nurses mind their charges.