Scene 3.

Overseer's wife. Jeppe. The others.

(Wife comes in and kisses him on the hand.)

Jeppe—Are you the overseer's wife?

Woman—Yes, I am, gracious lord.

Jeppe (pats her on the cheek)—You are real nice. Won't you sit down at the table with me?

Woman—My lord has only to command; I am at his service.

Jeppe (to the overseer)—Will you let your wife eat with me?

Overseer—I thank your lordship that you do me the honor.

Jeppe—See here, place a chair for her, she shall sit at the table with me.

(She seats herself at the table, eats and drinks with him; he becomes jealous of the secretary and whenever he looks at him, the secretary immediately looks the other way. He sings an old-fashioned love song while they are sitting at the table. Jeppe orders the musicians to play a polka and dances with her, but falls three times from drunkenness, and the fourth time he remains lying and falls asleep.)