Therefore Choose by Keith Oatley Page B

weeks.”
    â€œThe cousin from the country is invited now to dinner.”

12
    George bought a bottle of chateau-bottled Burgundy that was more expensive than he could afford. He made careful squares of toast with pâté, and Anna prepared a casserole.
    â€œI can’t do this,” she said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œMake a dinner party.”
    â€œScarcely a dinner party.”
    â€œI can manage breakfast, even lunch. After five o’clock, there’s a cook to do this kind of thing.”
    â€œIt looks fine.”
    â€œIt’s not what it looks like that counts. It’s good that Dagmar has books of recipes.”
    Werner arrived.
    â€œSorry to be late,” he said. “Here’s a bottle of wine. My contribution.”
    George was going to show Werner round the flat, but Werner started to walk through of his own accord. He opened each door, entered each room, made an inspection as if he were wondering whether to buy the place. George followed. In the bedroom that George and Anna shared, Werner walked to the window, drew a curtain aside, and regarded the prospect. He opened the cupboards, lay on the bed, and bounced on it a couple of times.
    Back in the drawing room, he said, “Conveniently situated. Not elegant but comfortable.”
    â€œYou approve?” said George.
    â€œIt is a matter neither of approval nor disapproval,” he said.
    George had not seen Werner in this mood. Suddenly, he had a thought: Werner and Anna had been lovers. Why had it not occurred to him? A hot shameful flush spread up his neck, which he tried to cover with a hand.
    â€œYou’re not feeling well,” said Werner. “Why don’t you sit down?”
    â€œI’m fine. A dizzy spell. I get them sometimes.”
    â€œVery debilitating.”
    â€œThey only last a second.”
    George went to a sideboard so that he could turn his back. On the sideboard was the bottle of Burgundy, opened to let it breathe. He fiddled with the glasses, then poured.
    â€œA glass of wine,” he said.
    Werner took the glass that George offered and turned to Anna.
    â€œI do not suppose you are paying too much.”
    â€œWe are looking after it,” said Anna. “Caring for the cats.”
    â€œHas everyone wine?” said Werner. “Very well. To your health … to the health of us all.”
    â€œYou’re angry,” said Anna. “You think it is not right that we are together?”
    â€œRight?” he said. “What right have I to say what is right?”
    â€œBut you are angry.”
    â€œThe difference between the English and the German,” said Werner, “is that the code of the English, which must be carefully observed, is first to say what he will do and then to do it. The German is the opposite. He acts and then says what he is doing.”
    â€œAnd you?” said Anna.
    â€œI am happy for you, and now I say that I am happy.”
    â€œThat is sweet of you,” said Anna.
    With one of her outbursts of warmth she went to kiss him on the cheek. Was this what he had wanted? Acknowledgment? A token of affection? Suddenly the atmosphere was less tense. They sat to eat the pâté. Werner, who was near the bottle, poured more wine. In a while, they started on the casserole, and chatted about Konstanz, about Anna’s magazine, about the Pergamon Museum.
    Halfway through the meal, Werner got up and said, “You know what? I shall now behave in the English way. First I say what I shall do. I shall open that bottle of wine that I brought. Then I shall do it. You have a corkscrew?”
    George fetched the corkscrew and a napkin. Werner mimed a waiter, displayed the bottle, then opened it. He pulled the cork with a flourish. Then, with the napkin over his left arm, he approached Anna.
    â€œFor you, Fräulein?”
    â€œNo, thanks, really.”
    The bottle of Burgundy, which George had bought, was empty. Anna had not even