“But if she did?” Herr Heinrich persisted.

“She won’t....  Some years ago I used to believe in the inevitable European war,” Mr. Britling explained to Mr. Direck, “but it’s been threatened so long that at last I’ve lost all belief in it.  The Powers wrangle and threaten.  They’re far too cautious and civilised to let the guns go off.  If there was going to be a war it would have happened two years ago when the Balkan League fell upon Turkey.  Or when Bulgaria attacked Serbia....”

Herr Heinrich reflected, and received these conclusions with an expression of respectful edification.

“I am naturally anxious,” he said, “because I am taking tickets for my holidays at an Esperanto Conference at Boulogne.”

Section 7

“There is only one way to master such a thing as driving an automobile,” said Mr. Britling outside his front door, as he took his place in the driver’s seat, “and that is to resolve that from the first you will take no risks.  Be slow if you like.  Stop and think when you are in doubt.  But do nothing rashly, permit no mistakes.”

It seemed to Mr. Direck as he took his seat beside his host that this was admirable doctrine.

They started out of the gates with an extreme deliberation.  Indeed twice they stopped dead in the act of turning into the road, and the engine had to be restarted.

“You will laugh at me,” said Mr. Britling; “but I’m resolved to have no blunders this time.”

“I don’t laugh at you.  It’s excellent,” said Mr. Direck.

“It’s the right way,” said Mr. Britling.  “Care—­oh damn!  I’ve stopped the engine again.  Ugh!—­ah!—­so!—­Care, I was saying—­and calm.”

“Don’t think I want to hurry you,” said Mr. Direck.  “I don’t....”

They passed through the tillage at a slow, agreeable pace, tooting loudly at every corner, and whenever a pedestrian was approached.  Mr. Direck was reminded that he had still to broach the lecture project to Mr. Britling.  So much had happened—­

The car halted abruptly and the engine stopped.

“I thought that confounded hen was thinking of crossing the road,” said Mr. Britling.  “Instead of which she’s gone through the hedge.  She certainly looked this way....  Perhaps I’m a little fussy this morning....  I’ll warm up to the work presently.”

“I’m convinced you can’t be too careful,” said Mr. Direck.  “And this sort of thing enables one to see the country better....”

Beyond the village Mr. Britling seemed to gather confidence.  The pace quickened.  But whenever other traffic or any indication of a side way appeared discretion returned.  Mr. Britling stalked his sign posts, crawling towards them on the belly of the lowest gear; he drove all the morning like a man who is flushing ambuscades.  And yet accident overtook him.  For God demands more from us than mere righteousness.