VARIANTS:
[1] 1845.
Or stedfast Centinel ... 1842.
Until the Vale she quitted, and their door
Was closed, to which she will return no more;
But first old Faithful to a neighbour's care
Was given in charge; nor lacked he dainty fare,
And in the chimney nook was free to lie
And doze, or, if his hour were come, to die.
Inserted only in the edition of 1842.
[3] The phrase "for the nonce" was italicised in 1842.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] In the MS. of these Fenwick notes, the following is written in pencil, the passage referred to beginning with "Our hostess," and ending at "the poem." "Revise this sentence. Here is something involved."—Ed.
[B] i.e. John Carter, Wordsworth's confidential clerk, who saw the edition of 1857 through the press. The sentence enclosed within brackets and signed J. C. is his.—Ed.