Читать книгу Mr. Britling Sees It Through - H. G. Wells - Страница 11

"Perhaps," said Mr. Britling without assurance, and after a little peaceful pause, "I can reverse out of this."

He seemed to feel some explanation was due to Mr. Direck. "You see, at first—it's perfectly simple—one steers round a corner and then one doesn't put the wheels straight again, and so one keeps on going round—more than one meant to. It's the bicycle habit; the bicycle rights itself. One expects a car to do the same thing. It was my fault. The book explains all this question clearly, but just at the moment I forgot."

He reflected and experimented in a way that made the engine scold and fuss. …

"You see, she won't budge for the reverse. … She's—embedded. … Do you mind getting out and turning the wheel back? Then if I reverse, perhaps we'll get a move on. … "

Mr. Direck descended, and there were considerable efforts.

"If you'd just grip the spokes. Yes, so. … One, Two, Three! … No! Well, let's just sit here until somebody comes along to help us. Oh! Somebody will come all right. Won't you get up again?"

And after a reflective moment Mr. Direck resumed his seat beside Mr. Britling. …