“No, no!” cried Ranger. “It’s all right. I don’t dispute it.”
“That concludes the elections,” said the captain.
And amid loud cheers and counter-cheers the meeting dispersed.
The prefects of Wakefield’s house met that evening in Yorke’s study to talk over the events of the afternoon.
The captain was the only person present who appeared to regard the result of the elections with equanimity.
“After all,” said he, “though I’m awfully sorry about old Ranger, it seems fairer to have the officers evenly divided. There’s much less chance of a row than it we were three to their one.”
“That’s all very well,” said Fisher, whose pleasure in his own election had been completely spoiled by the defeat of his friend, “if we could count on fair play. You know Dangle as well as I do. I’d sooner resign myself than have him secretary.”
“What rot!” said Ranger. “You’d probably only give them another man. No, we shall have to see we get fair play.”
“And give it, too,” said the captain.
“They simply packed the meeting,” said Dalton, “and fetched up five juniors at the very end, who turned the scale. If our fellows had done the same, we should have been all right.”