That will set the military machinery of France going.

All the time the governments of Europe will be working for peace, all, that is, except one, which is situated at Berlin." Michael felt inclined to laugh at this rapid and disastrous sequence of ominous forebodings; it was so completely characteristic of Aunt Barbara to take the most violent possible view of the situation, which no doubt had its dangers.

And what Michael felt was felt by the enormous majority of English people.
"Dear Aunt Barbara, you do get on quick," he said.
"It will happen quickly," she said.

"There is that little cloud in the east like a man's hand today, and rather like that mailed fist which our sweet peaceful friend in Germany is so fond of talking about.

But it will spread over the sky, I tell you, like some tropical storm.