But now his strongest reason for desiring peace was that he had pledged himself to the minister's wife to bring it about in some way or other.

So he took Peter off by himself, and without much difficulty, persuaded him to act the magnanimous part and drop the quarrel.
With Ranald he had a harder task.

That young man was prepared to see his quarrel through at whatever consequences to himself.

He knew the McRaes, and knew well their reputation, but that only made it more impossible for him to retreat.

But Murdie knew better than to argue with him, so he turned away from him with an indifferent air, saying: "Oh, very well.
Peter is willing to let it drop.