The Trees of Pride by G. K. Chesterton
This is not my first G. K. Chesterton, but this is my first mystery story by him. Like Chesterton's works, this story is embellished with his humor and the theme, rather than about the mystery, I think is about the conflict between science and religion, which is also a recurring topic in Chesterton's works.
I didn't find Dr. Brown suspicious until the end. Nevertheless, I did suspect that Squire Vane was not dead at all as, in my opinion, a dead body would hardly turn into dry bones (and no other remains except the hat) just in that short period of time.
After reading the story, I could not help but wonder who is the real proud person, the Squire, the lady, the poet, the doctor, the lawyer, or the art critic? Perhaps they are all arrogant in their particular ways, even the seemingly aloof Treherne and Barbara, although their marriage might signify the union, and thus the compromise, between the major British culture and the local Celtic one.