It seemed to point to a combination all over the school to thwart him, and in face of such a feeling further effort seemed hopeless.
Riddell imagined too much.

Would it have pained him to know that three- quarters of those who, politics-mad, had thus broken bounds that afternoon had never so much as given him a thought in the matter, and in fact had gone off, not to defy him, but simply to please themselves?
The bell for call-over rang, and Riddell went despondingly to the big hall.

Only about a score of fellows, including Bloomfield, Porter, Fairbairn, Coates, and Wibberly (who, by the way, always did as Bloomfield did), answered to their names amid a good deal of wonder and a little laughter.
Bloomfield, who had also regarded the afternoon's business as a test of his authority, looked as crestfallen as the real captain, and for the first time that term he and Riddell approached one another with a common interest.
"There'll be an awful row about this," said he.
"There will," said Riddell; "will you report your fellows, or shall I send up the whole list to the doctor ?" "You send up all the names," said Bloomfield, "that is, unless Fairbairn wants to report the schoolhouse himself." "No," said Fairbairn, "you send up the list, Riddell." And so Riddell's captaincy received its first undisputed acknowledgment that term, and he sent up his formidable list to the doctor, and with mingled curiosity, impatience, and despondency waited the result..