Lucia marries Georgie and is made the mayor of Tilling,though Georgie is peeved to find that it gives him no standing and,on Lucia's orders,they must set an example by economizing. Lucia is asked to select a Lady Mayoress,which has her female acquaintances vying with each other though Mrs Wyse seems to scupper her chances when her pet budgie,which she is wearing as an ornament on her hat after accidentally killing it,falls into her meal at the candidates' banquet. Lucia decides there is only one obvious choice - Mapp,whom she can keep in check as her subordinate ...