He had formerly regarded the new teaching with coldness and even hostility, and had never discussed it with the Countess Lydia Ivanovna (who was carried away by it), but had carefully and silently evaded her challenges.
Egli prima si era mostrato freddo e persino ostile a questa nuova dottrina, e con la contessa Lidija Ivanovna, che ne era appassionata, non ne aveva discusso mai, e aveva evitato con cura, tacendo, le sue sfide.