argufy

I quote Milton, I quote lots of different people in the novel, and it’s more like what William Empson called “argufying” than it is writing against, if that makes sense.

“Why don’t you mind your own business and go to sleep?” says Common-sense; and as I was too tired to argufy, I made no answer, but went off sound.

It ain't in me to argufy wi' 'ee, and, maybe, tear both our hearts.

He admitted that much once when we were argufying.

“What’s the use of all this argufying?” said the sailor who had before spoken, and who was boatswain of the Falcon.