Chapter 2

. . . Meanwhile her employer, Pat Hobby, stood in front of the barber shop talking to Louie, the studio bookie. Pat’s four weeks at two-fifty would be up tomorrow and he had begun to have that harassed¹ and aghast feeling of those who live always on the edge of solvency².

‘Four lousy weeks on a bad script,’ he said. ‘That’s all I’ve had in six months.’

‘How do you live?’ asked Louie — without too much show of interest.

‘I don’t live. The days go by, the weeks go by. But who cares? Who cares — after twenty years.’

‘You had a good time in your day,’ Louie reminded him.

Pat looked after a dress extra in a shimmering³ lamé gown.

‘Sure,’ he admitted, ‘I had three wives. All anybody could want.’

‘You mean that was one of your wives?’ asked Louie.

Pat peered after the disappearing figure.

‘No-o. I didn’t say that was one. But I’ve had plenty of them feeding out of my pocket. Not now though — a man of forty-nine is not considered human.’

‘You’ve got a cute little secretary,’ said Louie. ‘Look Pat, I’ll give you a tip —’

‘Can’t use it,’ said Pat, ‘I got fifty cents.’

‘I don’t mean that kind of tip. Listen — Jack⁴ Berners wants to make a picture about U.W.C. because he’s got a kid there that plays basketball. He can’t get a story. Why don’t you go over and see the Athaletic Superintendent⁵ named Doolan at U.W.C.? That superintendent owes me three grand on the nags⁶, and he could maybe give you an idea for a college picture. And then you bring it back and sell it to Berners. You’re on salary, ain’t you?’

‘Till tomorrow,’ said Pat gloomily.

‘Go and see Jim Kresge that hangs out in the Campus Sport Shop. He’ll introduce you to the Athaletic Superintendent. Look, Pat, I got to make a collection now. Just remember, Pat, that Doolan owes me three grand.’

1 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

2 solvency   

n.偿付能力，溶解力

参考例句：

• Fears about the solvency of the banks precipitated the great economic crash.对银行偿付能力出现恐慌更加速了经济的崩溃。
• Their targets,including profitability ratios,solvency ratios,asset management ratios.其指标包括盈利比率、偿债能力比率、资产管理比率。

3 shimmering   

v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。
• The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句

4 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

5 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

6 nags   

n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责

参考例句：

• The trouble nags at her. 那件麻烦事使她苦恼不已。 来自辞典例句
• She nags at her husBand aBout their lack of money. 她抱怨丈夫没钱。 来自互联网