How does Lewis describe Dickinson's life?

What is the narrator's main conflict in this passage? a. he doesn't like someone mispronouncing his name. b. he has a history of beating up kids he doesn't like. c. he has a violent temper that he cannot control. d. he doesn't like "the kid" he mentions in the paragraph.

“what i heard was abominable,” said utterson. “it can make no change. you do not understand my position,” returned the doctor, with a certain incoherency of manner. “i am painfully situated, utterson; my position is a very strange—a very strange one. it is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking.” –the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde, robert louis stevenson write two to three sentences explaining how this passage creates suspense.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. all dreaded it—all sought to avert it. what is the meaning of the word avert as it is used in this context? a) fight b) dislike c) prevent d) talk about