Tom envies Huck's freedom. As noted earlier, Tom hates going to church; Tom hates going to Sunday school; and he hates washing. He plays hooky from regular school, avoids doing chores (such as whitewashing the fence--note that Huck is not among those conned into doing Tom's work), and envies Huck's free and easy life. Ironically, the very boys--including Tom--who long for Huck's freedom and are envious of Huck's lifestyle could not survive under Huck's conditions.
As Tom envies Huck's lifestyle, Huck admires Tom's book-learning and sees Tom as a standard of civilized behavior. When Tom explains how pirates dress, Huck doesn't question his knowledge. Just as the other boys do, Huck admires Tom and willingly follows him.
Ultimately, Tom is the conformist to society and its restraints while Huck is the outcast, the individualist, the free soul who cherishes his own freedom.
