Then Orange ran back to Launceston. As she passed the low public-house, she stumbled over something. It was the young woman, drunk, lying in the road. She reached the house of the Flamanks, and thrust open the drawing-room window and went in. ’Hah!’ exclaimed Mrs. Flamank, standing there, with Mrs. Trampleasure trembling and sniffling behind her; ’this is fine goings on in my house. Out to one o’clock in the morning, cutting about, heaven knows where, and with whom. This is a Christian habitation. Out of my house you go to-morrow.’ ’Betsy Delilah!’ remonstrated Mr. Flamank from the door, ’the poor souls have no house to go to.’ ’She,’ exclaimed Mrs. Flamank, indicating Orange—’she don’t want one. She likes the street at night, apparently.’ ’Madam,’ said Mirelle, stepping forward, and speaking with composure, ’give us but two days’ shelter, and then we will trouble you no more, I undertake. I have a friend to whom I will appeal.’ Then she went upstairs, and wrote:— ’Mr. Herring!—Come to us. Help us!—MIRELLE.’ *CHAPTER XXXIII.* *TRANSFORMATION.* Grizzly Cobbledick and Joyce carried John Herring to the Giant’s Table. Joyce had not the smallest intention of surrendering her charge to Cicely. She had feared lest the farmer should accompany the waggon, and insist on the injured man being conveyed to West Wyke House. Fortunately, the chance of making a bargain with the Squire had arrested him at Bridestowe, and the young lout who acted as driver was easily managed. Grizzly consented to receive Herring into his den, not because he felt gratitude to him for having saved him from imprisonment, and for having cured Joyce of her injuries, but because he thought that ’backie’ might be extracted from him. Gratitude is not a savage virtue; but then, is gratitude to be found anywhere? It is a figment of the poet and moralist, like the unicorn and the mermaid. A simulation of this ideal virtue is assumed by those who are cultured, but the genuine plant grows on no human soil and under no known climate. Grizzly bore Herring no ill-will, and he thought it possible that the tobacco which was lost to him through the insolvency of Tramplara might be made up to him by the indebtedness of Herring. He would see to that; he would hold Herring in captivity till as much ’backie’ was produced as could be counted on the toes and fingers, with the head thrown in. If he died, he died. Speculations succeed or fail; there are blanks and prizes in the lottery, disappointments and luck in life. ’Cut off,’ said Grizzly to his daughter, ’and go and wire a rabbit. The young maister, if he comes round, will want some’ut to eat, sure.’ ’But what if he wakes up whilst I be gone?’ ’Then he wakes—that be all.’ ’You’ll be good and kind to ’n, vaither,’ entreated Joyce. ’Why not? He ain’t done me no hurt,’ answered Grizzly.