Chapter 8 Summary

Dolly and Ben are attending Mitya's party at the Kuriatins. There is a bear, supposedly a dancing bear, but the bear refuses to dance. It retreats to a corner. Dolly tells Mitya to get the bear something to drink. Mitya goes into the dining room and comes back with a bottle of vodka, which he proceeds to serve to the bear. The bear laps it up and begins to urinate all over the room. The children all laugh as the drunken bear staggers around the room. It leaves the room and proceeds to tear the dining room apart. Sergei, a servant, comes in and tosses a shovelful of burning coals on the bear, setting it on fire as the children continue to roar with laughter. Kuriatin arrives home at that point. Frank is with him. Frank quickly takes Dolly and Ben home, wondering...