such as often occurs after death, was so far dominated by the impression
of the moment that he walked out of the room, not daring to justify
himself in his mother's eyes, not daring to raise his head. After him
crept Hugo whose teeth chattered as though he were suffering from an
ague; but Brian took no more notice of his cousin. He went straight to
his own room and locked himself in, to bear his lonely sorrow as best he
might.

No formal inquiry was made into the cause of Richard Luttrell's death.
Archie Grant's testimony completely exonerated Brian, even of
carelessness, and the general opinion was that no positive blame could
be attached to anybody for the sad occurrence, and that Mr. Brian
Luttrell had the full sympathy and respect of all who knew him and had
known his lamented brother, Richard Luttrell of Netherglen.

So the matter ended. But idle tongues still wagged, and wise heads were
shaken over the circumstances attending Richard Luttrell's death.

It was partly Mrs. Luttrell's fault. In the first hours of her
bereavement she had spoken wildly and bitterly of the share which Brian
had had in causing Richard's death. She had spoken to Doctor Muir, to
Angela, to Mrs. Shairp--a few words only to each, but enough to show in
what direction her thoughts were tending. With the first two her words
were sacred, but Mrs. Shairp, though kindly enough, was not so
trustworthy. Before the good woman realised what she was doing, the
whole household, nay, the whole country-side, had learned that Mrs.
Luttrell believed her second son to have fired that fatal shot with the
intention of killing, or at least of maiming, his brother Richard.

The Grants, who had spent the day of the accident at Netherglen, were,
of course, eagerly questioned by inquisitive acquaintances. The girls
were ready enough to chatter. They confided to their intimate friends in
mysterious whispers that the brothers had certainly not been on good
terms; they had glowered at one another, and caught each other up and
been positively rude to each other; and they would not go out together;
and poor Mr. Luttrell looked so worried, so unlike himself! Then the
brothers were interrogated, but proved less easy to "draw." Archie flew
into a rage at the notion of sinister intentions on Brian's part. Donald
looked "dour," and flatly refused to discuss the subject.

But his refusal was thought vastly suspicious by the many wiseacres who
knew the business of everybod