Now the situation was at the point of being a stand-off. Clare didn't want to go, but she wasn't allowed to stay. James wouldn't be allowed to stay by this point either; he'd argued too much.
Several other students had also spoken up for Clare, but they were being told to stay quiet, or they'd also be in trouble. Clare and Ms. Duncan were shouting at each other by this point, and so the situation had to be resolved.