Read "Sir John Dering" by Jeffery Farnol online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The Fates, those mysterious, unearthly sisters who are for ever busied upon the destinies of poor, finite humanity-the Fates, it seems, decreed that my Lady Herminia Barrasdaile, travelling full speed for Paris, should be suddenly precipitated upon the soft, resilient form of her devoted maid, Mrs. Betty, to that buxom creature's gasping dismay and her own vast indignation; wherefore, the huge vehicle coming to an abrupt standstill, down fell the window and out went my lady's angry, albeit lovely, countenance to demand instant explanation from coachmen, footmen and the world in general.
"Why, ye see, my lady," answered red-faced Giles, the coachman, his Sussex calm entirely unruffled, "it do so 'appen as our off-side rear spring's gone, mam."