It could not but be courage, active courage, superior to her previous tentative steps--the verbal temerities she had supposed so dauntless.

For now she was in action, now she was being tried to match the preacher and incarnation of the virtues of action! Alvan shaped a comparison of her with Paris, his beloved of cities--the symbolized goddess of the lightning brain that is quick to conceive, eager to realize ideas, impassioned for her hero, but ever putting him to proof, graceful beyond all rhyme, colloquial as never the Muse; light in light hands, yet valiant unto death for a principle; and therefore not light, anything but light in strong hands, very stedfast rather: and oh! constantly entertaining.
The comparison had to be strained to fit the living lady's shape.

Did he think it, or a dash of something like it?
His mood was luxurious.

He had found the fair and youthful original woman of refinement and station desired by him.

He had good reason to wish to find her.