`` Under God , I saved a life . This is the first time I could ever really claim that . In other cases I may have helped ; but , Anne , if I had not stayed at Allonby 's last night and fought death hand to hand , that woman would have died before morning . I tried an experiment that was certainly never tried in Four Winds before . I doubt if it was ever tried anywhere before outside of a hospital . It was a new thing in Kingsport hospital last winter . I could never have dared try it here if I had not been absolutely certain that there was no other chance . I risked it -- and it succeeded . As a result , a good wife and mother is saved for long years of happiness and usefulness . As I drove home this morning , while the sun was rising over the harbor , I thanked God that I had chosen the profession I did . I had fought a good fight and won -- think of it , Anne , WON , against the Great Destroyer . It 's what I dreamed of doing long ago when we talked together of what we wanted to do in life . That dream of mine came true this morning . '' `` Was that the only one of your dreams that has come true ? '' asked Anne , who knew perfectly well what the substance of his answer would be , but wanted to hear it again . `` YOU know , Anne-girl , '' said Gilbert , smiling into her eyes . At that moment there were certainly two perfectly happy people sitting on the doorstep of a little white house on the Four Winds Harbor shore . Presently Gilbert said , with a change of tone , `` Do I or do I not see a full-rigged ship sailing up our lane ? '' Anne looked and sprang up . `` That must be either Miss Cornelia Bryant or Mrs. Moore coming to call , '' she said .
`` I 'm going into the office , and if it is Miss Cornelia I warn you that I 'll eavesdrop , '' said XXXXX .
Allonby Anne Bryant Gilbert Harbor Kingsport Moore first morning years