It is the usual thing to call on one's ward.

It will be a terrible business no doubt.

_All_ girls belong to the genus nuisance.

And _this_ girl will be at the head of her class no doubt.
"Lively, spirited," so far went the parent.

A regular hoyden may be read between those kind parental lines.
The poor professor feels hot again with nervous agitation as he imagines an interview between him and the wild, laughing, noisy, perhaps horsey (they all ride in Australia) young woman to whom he is bound to make his bow.
How soon must this unpleasant interview take place?
Once more he looks back to the solicitor's letter.