Once or twice a Welcher dropped in a speech, attacking both parties and once or twice a schoolhouse boy spoke in favour of Bloomfield, or a Parrett's boy spoke in favour of Riddell.

At last, after about an hour's angry debate, the House divided.

That is, all those in favour of Game's amendment moved over to one side of the room, and those against it to the other, and those who did not want to vote at all kept their seats in the middle.
There was no need to count the numbers of the rival parties as they stood.

Only about twenty-five stood beside Fairbairn and the schoolhouse, while nearly two hundred and fifty boys crowded the side of the room along which Game and his followers took their stand.

The triumph of the opponents to the new captain was complete, and the school had given him and the head master a most emphatic reply to the late appointment.
Riddell would have much preferred to be allowed to withdraw of his own accord rather than remain to be beaten.