Jakobsen. A great blundering pig!—But I know it now!
Tjaelde. That's all right! I can tell you I am delighted to be able to set affairs straight between you and me.
Jakobsen. I don't know what to answer. It goes to my heart! (Shakes his hand heartily.) You are a far better man than I,—and I said so to my wife. "He's a splendid fellow," I said.
Tjaelde (releasing his hand). Let us forget everything except the happy days we have had together, Jakobsen! How do things go at the Brewery?
Jakobsen. At the Brewery! As long as folk ladle beer into their stomachs at the rate they do now—
Berent. Jakobsen was kind enough to drive me out here. We had a most amusing drive. He is a character.
Jakobsen (in an anxious undertone, to TJAELDE). What does he mean by that?
Tjaelde. That you are different from most people.
Jakobsen. Ah!—I didn't feel sure, you know, whether he wasn't sitting there making game of me, all the way here.
Tjaelde. How can you think such a thing? (To BERENT.) Do come into the house. Excuse my going first; but my wife is not always quite prepared to receive visitors since she has been able to do so little for herself. (Goes into the house.)