① A heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and an instant later there entered a tall, ruddy, clean-shaven gentleman.

② There chanced to be no one in the house.

= It chanced that there was no one in the house.

③ There are strange things happening to us.

= Strange things are happening to us.

④ There haven’t been any robbers seen about here for a long time.

= No robbers have been seen about here for a long time.

⑤ There must be no more time wasted.

= No more time must be wasted.

⑥ Here’s Mr. Harris wanting to see you.

= Mr. Harris is wanting to see you.

⑦ The very bigness of America creates the belief that America is different, is somehow exceptional, that there

is reserved for its citizens another destiny from that which is to befall the Old World.