Page 193 - the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer

Chapter XXIV

OM was a glittering hero once more — the pet of the old,
Tthe envy of the young. His name even went into immor-
tal print, for the village paper magnified him. There were
some that believed he would be President, yet, if he escaped
hanging.
As usual, the fickle, unreasoning world took Muff Potter
to its bosom and fondled him as lavishly as it had abused
him before. But that sort of conduct is to the world’s credit;
therefore it is not well to find fault with it.
Tom’s days were days of splendor and exultation to him,
but his nights were seasons of horror. Injun Joe infested
all his dreams, and always with doom in his eye. Hardly
any temptation could persuade the boy to stir abroad after
nightfall. Poor Huck was in the same state of wretchedness
and terror, for Tom had told the whole story to the lawyer
the night before the great day of the trial, and Huck was
sore afraid that his share in the business might leak out, yet,
notwithstanding Injun Joe’s flight had saved him the suf-
fering of testifying in court. The poor fellow had got the
attorney to promise secrecy, but what of that? Since Tom’s
harassed conscience had managed to drive him to the law-
yer’s house by night and wring a dread tale from lips that
had been sealed with the dismalest and most formidable of
oaths, Huck’s confidence in the human race was well-nigh

1 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer