We began by disagreeing.

They showed me my husband's "instructions," providing, among other things, for the payment of one clear half of his income as long as he lived to his wife.

I positively refused to touch a farthing of his money.
The lawyers were unaffectedly shocked and astonished at this decision.
Nothing of the sort had ever happened before in the whole course of their experience.

They argued and remonstrated with me.

The partner with the ill-tempered eyebrows wanted to know what my reasons were.