Sentence:  “ My tastes,” he said, still smiling, “ incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet.” And, to tease her and <WSD>arouse</WSD> her to combat : “ I prefer a farandole to a nocturne ; I'd rather have a painting than an etching ; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects;nb....” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To stimulate feelings.