But Bloomfield for some time past had shown signs of coming round to see that the position which had been forced upon him, and which he had been very ready at first to accept, was not a satisfactory one.

And, greatly to the disgust of some of his fellow-monitors, he had shown this more than once by friendly advances towards his rival.

But, so far, he had never got to the length of calling upon him in his study.
Riddell was scarcely surprised to see him, although he was quite unprepared for the very amicable way in which he began.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you," said Bloomfield, "but I've been intending to come over the last day or two." "It's very good of you," said Riddell.
"The fact is," said Bloomfield, a little nervously, "ever since that debate in Parliament some weeks ago, when you spoke about all pulling together, I've felt that our fellows haven't done as much as they ought in that way--I know I haven't." Riddell did not exactly know what to say.

He could not say that the Parrett's fellows _had_ "pulled together" for the good of the school, so he said nothing.
"I'm getting rather sick of it," continued Bloomfield, digging his hands in his pockets.
"So am I," said the captain.
"You know," said Bloomfield, "it was that wretched boat-race affair which made things as bad as they were.

Our fellows wouldn't have kept it up so long if that hadn't happened." Riddell began to get more and more uneasy.