You can belong to that Society for the small sum of 2/6 per annum. I
think of joining because it is cheap.


"The subjoined poem" was the one beginning: "She dwelt among the
untrodden ways," and Butler made this note on the letter:


To the foregoing letter I answered that I concluded Miss Savage meant
to imply that Wordsworth had murdered Lucy in order to escape a
prosecution for breach of promise.


Miss Savage to Butler.

2nd April, 1880: My dear Mr. Butler: I don't think you see all that
I do in the poem, and I am afraid that the suggestion of a DARK
SECRET in the poet's life is not so very obvious after all. I was
hoping you would propose to devote yourself for a few months to
reading the 'Excursion', his letters, &c., with a view to following
up the clue, and I am disappointed though, to say the truth, the idea
of a CRIME had not flashed upon me when I wrote to you. How well the
works of GREAT men repay attention and study! But you, who know your
Bible so well, how was it that you did not detect the plagiarism in
the last verse? Just refer to the account of the disappearance of
Aaron (I have not a Bible at hand, we want one sadly in the club) but
I am sure that the words are identical [I cannot see what Miss Savage
meant. 1901. S. B.] 'Cassell's Magazine' have offered a prize for
setting the poem to music, and I fell to thinking how it could be
treated musically, and so came to a right comprehension of it.