读故事

“Don't be so bound up with tradition, Sir Harry!” said the slimy man named Macklebee. “I know you're descended from honorable people, but you're broke now. Something has to be done. This is the only thing that will help.”
“No! I will not murder my brother. I would be burned up by guilt for the rest of my life if I do. Even if it meant that I would inherit all of his wealth and my house became carpeted with gold! He has always been civil to me, and I do come from honorable people. I'll find another way.”
Macklebee practically hissed, but he had to be cautious not to push Sir Harry too hard. It was Macklebee's idea, after all, to murder the brother of Sir Harry for money. It was also his idea to murder Sir Harry after he got the money. Macklebee was capable of anything. And he was determined to get hold of these riches.
“Ach, be done with it all, then,” Macklebee said as he turned and began to walk away. “I won't be critical of your morals. I suppose it can even be credited to your forgotten family name. Go back to your run down shanty house on the lower east side and piss in that hole you call a toilet. I can be busy with helping others meet their needs.”
Noting that it was not characteristic of Macklebee to give up so quickly, Sir Harry hesitated. He himself had never been characterized by a willingness to commit a crime, but maybe Macklebee was right! Maybe this was the only way!
“Wait,” Sir Harry said.
Macklebee stopped.
“Come back.”
Macklebee smiled to himself and then turned around to walk back to Sir Harry.

记短语

be bound up with(或in)热衷于，献身于，忙于；与…有密切关系，随…而定
be broke破了产的，一名不文的
be burned up生气，恼怒；精疲力竭
be busy with忙于…，专心于…
be capable of有…能力的，有…可能的，有做出(坏事)倾向的
be(become) carpeted with铺着，覆盖着
be cautious to小心谨慎
be characteristic of具有…特色，是…的特点
be characterized by以…为特征
be civil to文明的，有礼貌的，通情达理的
be credited to (或with)把…归于…，认为…有(某种优点或成就等)
be critical of对…持批评态度，批评…
be descended from是…的后裔，出身于…
be determined to坚决做…，决心做…
be done with完毕的，了结的

“哈里爵士，别那么拘泥于传统！”那个可恶的名叫麦考毕的人说。“我知道你出身于体面人家，但你现在破产了。你得想点儿办法。只有这样才能帮得了你。”
“不！我不会谋害我的哥哥。如果我做了的话，我会悔恨一辈子。即使那意味着我将继承他所有的财产，我的屋里铺满了金子！他对我一直都很通情达理，而我也是高贵出身，我会想其他办法。”
麦考毕几乎要发嘘声了，但他得小心谨慎不能把哈里逼急了。对哈里爵士的哥哥谋财害命的点子毕竟是麦克毕想出来的。他还想等拿到钱之后把哈里爵士也给杀了。麦考毕什么都能做得出来。他已经下定决心要把这些财产抓到手。
“那好，让一切都了结了吧。”麦考毕说着转身准备离开。“我不会批评你的道德观念。我想它甚至可以归功于你那已经忘掉了的姓。回到你那东边破乱不堪的房子，在那个你称之为马桶的破洞里撒尿吧。我可以忙点儿别的事，帮助别人满足他们的需要。”
哈里爵士犹豫了，因为他注意到这么快就放弃不是麦考毕的特点。他自己还从来不具有愿意犯罪的特征，但也许麦考毕是对的！也许这是的办法！
“等等。”哈里爵士说。
麦考毕停了下来。
“回来吧。”
麦考毕暗自笑了，他转身向哈里爵士走去。

本文选自新航道精品图书《读故事记短语》