Hedda Gabler, Act 3 Summary

The next morning, a maid brings in a letter from Miss Tesman. As Hedda reads it, conversation with Mrs. Elvsted reveals that Tesman and Lovborg didn't come back from the party. Hedda comments on how Lovborg must have been wearing metaphorical "vine leaves" in his hair, and that Tesman must have spent the night at his aunt's. She then sends the worried Mrs. Elvsted to bed, assuring her that the minute the men arrive, she'll wake her.

As Hedda tends the fire, Tesman returns and tells her Lovborg got drunk, read excerpts from the unpublished book (which Tesman says is brilliant), and talked about the woman who inspired it. He didn't, Tesman adds, identify the woman, but Tesman thinks it was Mrs. Elvsted. He adds that as Brack took Lovborg home, Lovborg dropped the manuscript, which Tesman saved and...