Probably, had they been more accustomed to thinking together, they would have summoned a monster meeting, as Parrett's would have done, to discuss the situation.

As it was, they resolved themselves into several small groups, each of which dealt with the topic of the hour in its own way.
The juniors of course had a good deal to say on the subject.

Pilbury, Cusack, Philpot, Morgan, and a few other kindred spirits held a council of war in the study of the two former immediately after supper.
"Rum start this, eh, Pil!" said Cusack, by way of opening proceedings.
"You know," said Pil, confidentially, "I'm not surprised.

He made such a regular mess of it in the schoolhouse." "Don't know what's the good of his coming here, then," said Philpot; "our fellows aren't a bit quieter than the schoolhouse." No one was bold enough to dispute this peculiarly modest description of the order of Welch's house.
"I wonder if he's been kicked out of the captaincy as well ?" asked Cusack, who was apparently convinced in his own mind that the new move was a degradation for Riddell.
"I don't know," said Morgan; "Paddy said something about it being a good thing for us to get the captain of the school as head of our house." "Oh, ah--a jolly good thing," said Pilbury; "jolly lookout for us if he's stuck here to pull us up whenever we have a lark." "Bless you, _he_ can't pull a fellow up!" said somebody.

"They said he used to now and then in the schoolhouse." "Not he.