Mr Fothergill, a city clerk, lives with his mother, a shrewd and humerous old lady, and his vapid, smug wife. He is so ineffably good that he has sprouted a small pair of wings which he is proud to show his visitors - two doctors, two elderly spinsters, the Vicar and his own office-boy. But Mr Fothergill is unable to withstand the comments of the office-boy, and for the first time in his life is provoked to swear and - alas - the wings drop off.