Captain Vernon Demerest whistled in surprise when he saw what was inside Gwen's kitchen cupboard. He had been looking for some teacups, and instead he had found a cupboard full of bottles. All of them had airline names on them. There were about 300, he calculated.

'I've got some more in the bedroom.' Gwen's voice said brightly from behind him. 'They're for a party. I think this will be enough, don't you?'

She had come into the kitchen quietly, and he turned around to look at her. Every time he saw her he thought again how lucky he was, although he was used to success with women. Her uniform made her look very young, and her black hair and dark eyes shone under the kitchen light. She smiled at him.

'You can kiss me,' she said. 'I haven't put on my make-up yet.'

He put his arms around her and kissed her. After a few moments, she pushed him away.

'I want to talk to you,' she said firmly.

She turned to close the cupboard door.

'Wait a minute, Gwen!' Vernon cried. 'What about all those bottles?'

'Well, the passengers didn't drink them, so they will be useful for my party. I've been collecting bottles off flights for a long time for a special occasion.'

Seeing his face, she continued: 'Don't look so disapproving. All the girls do it. It isn't stealing, you know.'

Vernon had heard before that a clever air hostess could live cheaply off the food that the passengers didn't want. Some of their apartments were full of things like airline cups and glasses, too. But he had never seen so much airline property in a girl's apartment before. He had to laugh.

'You'll come to the party, won't you?' Gwen asked.

'If I'm invited.'

'Of course you are.'

They sat down in the kitchen and she poured the tea - into airline cups. She did it beautifully, as she did everything.

Vernon was still thinking about all those bottles, when her voice interrupted his thoughts.

'What I have to tell you, Vernon, is that I'm going to have a baby'

For a moment he could not believe his ears.

'You're what?'

'I'm going to have a baby,' she repeated calmly.

'Are you sure?'

She laughed and drank a little tea. He felt that she was laughing at him. He also felt that she had never looked so beautiful before.

'Of course I'm sure. I wouldn't tell you otherwise. More tea?'

'No!'

There was a silence before he said: 'I don't know how to ask you this, but ...'

'You must ask,' Gwen said, looking at him with her big, honest eyes. 'You want to know if I'm sure that it's your child, don't you?'

'Yes, I'm sorry, Gwen.'