A hero must of necessity be handsome; that is the first essential.

If he happens to be brave and debonair, rich and aristocratic, so much the better.

Somehow, to be brave and to be heroic are not actually accepted synonyms in certain youthful feminine minds.
For instance, every maid will agree that her father is brave; but tell her he is a hero because he pays his bills regularly and she will accept the statement with a smile of tolerant indulgence.
Thus Kitty viewed Cutty's activities with a thrill of amazed wonder.

Had the young man hoisted Cutty to his shoulders her feeling would have been one of exultant admiration.

Let age crown its garnered wisdom; youth has no objections to that; but feats of physical strength--that is poaching upon youth's preserves.