In Sweden, Hedda Nilsson, the jaded daughter of a rich automobile manufacturer, and Karl Berghoff, scion from another wealthy family, decide to marry after a romance in which they acknowledge that they have been everywhere of interest and done everything appropriate for couples in society. When Hedda learns that Viktor, her father, is in financial straits because of the market and that Karl's family faces similar problems, she enthusiastically suggests she would like to try "love in a cottage" as a change. She leaves for three months to learn to be a competent housewife, hoping that Karl will use the time to become a good provider. Under the name Helga Brand, Hedda gets work as a servant for comic strip creator Hjalmar Gnu, who is suffering from creative block. After Gnu upbraids Hedda when she interrupts his search for an idea and expresses disappointment that a fall she takes is not funny, Hedda hits him with a pie in the face and leaves. Outside an employment agency, Hedda sees Eric Landstrom, the chauffeur for retired brewer Hans Hanson, trying to fix his car and annoys him with her suggestions. Despite Eric's low opinion of her, Hanson hires Hedda as a live-in servant for his country home. After Hedda's first day of hard work, she sees Eric from her window working on an engine design in his quarters. She then has a nightmare in which the kitchen utensils, led by an egg, put her on trial for earlier throwing them about. The next night, Eric, after helping Hedda put to bed the rambunctious children of one of the Hansons' daughters, apologizes to Hedda and shows her the model of a boat, named "Minnie," which he is designing to be affordable for the average person. After a few weeks, Hedda has learned the skills of a housewife, while Eric has perfected his design. He asks her to the village dance, but she returns home after receiving an urgent telegram from her father. Viktor tells her that he is no longer in financial trouble and, in fact, can give her and Karl a large amount on their wedding day, but she returns to the village for the dance. There she sees the Hansons' other daughter Sigrid, who wants to have a "fling" with Eric, kissing him. Although Eric confesses that he loves Hedda, she says she now no longer cares. Eric and Hedda are fired, and she remains aloof saying she is engaged to another man. On the way to Stockholm, they meet Karl, now a chauffeur, and Hedda is disappointed in his lackluster embrace. Eric takes Hedda for a ride in "Minnie" and proposes, but Hedda refuses him. She then goes to find Karl, but discovers him kissing a widow. At home, when she cannot locate Eric, her father's detective places an ad for a chauffeur who designs boats. Eric applies, and while he talks Viktor into backing production of "Minnie," Hedda interrupts them to propose. Eric agrees on the condition that Viktor promises to keep the price of "Minnie" affordable to the average person.