There was no mean.
"If she declines to become Countess of Ventnor, she can marry whom she likes, as you will be all paupers together," was the Earl's caustic summing up.
This brutal argument rather overshot the mark.

The shipowner's face flushed with anger, and Lord Ventnor hastened to retrieve a false step.
"I didn't exactly mean to put it that way, Deane, but my temper is a little short these days.

My position on board this ship is intolerable.
As a matter of fair dealing to me, you should put a stop to your daughter's attitude towards Anstruther, on the ground that her engagement is neither approved of by you nor desirable under any consideration." It may be assumed from this remark that even the Earl's sardonic temper was ruffled by the girl's outrageous behavior.

Nor was it exactly pleasant to him to note how steadily Anstruther advanced in the favor of every officer on the ship.

By tacit consent the court-martial was tabooed, at any rate until the _Orient_ reached Singapore.