He could call it up before his mind as a man can call up the vision of a supremely beautiful rose he has admired.

And there was a scent from the Christ soul as ineffably delicious as the scent of the rose.

But when Valentine tried to see his own soul, he could not see it.
He could not comprehend how its aspect affected others, even quite how it affected Julian.

Only he could comprehend, as he looked at the Christ, its imperfection, and a longing, not felt before, came to him to be better than he was.

This new aspiration was given to him by Julian's confession.