Chapter 23

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​⁠At last the sleepy atmosphere was stirred—and vigorously: the murder trial came on in the court. It became the absorbing topic of village talk immediately. Tom could not get away from it. Every reference to the murder sent a shudder to his heart, for his troubled conscience and fears almost persuaded him that these remarks were put forth in his hearing as “feelers”; he did not see how he could be