structure critically over.

"You heard what I said, Douw, upon your belonging henceforth to this
house--to me?"

"Yes, Mr. Stewart."

"And now, lo and behold, I have a daughter as well! To-morrow we must plan
out still another room for our abode."

Thus ended the day on which my story properly and prophetically
begins--the day when I first met Master Philip Cross.




Chapter IV.

In Which I Become the Son of the House.



The French, for some reason or other, did not follow up their advantage
and descend upon the lower Valley; but had they done so there could
scarcely have been a greater panic among the Palatines. All during the
year there had been seen at times, darkly flitting through the woods near
the sparse settlements, little bands of hostile Indians. It was said that
their purpose was to seize and abduct Sir William; failing in this, they
did what other mischief they could, so that the whole Valley was kept in
constant alarm. No household knew, on going to bed, that they would not be