She was among the first generation of women to take the Classical Tripos examinations at the University of Cambridge, and was the only person to be placed in the top division of the first class at the end of her third year, in 1887.

[3][8] While a student, she worked hard at her studies but also found time for outdoor pursuits which she enjoyed, including tennis and skating.

[9] They had met at the Cambridge Greek Play,[7] a performance of Oedipus Rex in November 1887 for which Butler had arranged a large party of 42.

[11] James became an academic, and was Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University; Gordon was killed in action in Egypt in 1916; Nevile became a diplomat, serving as British Ambassador to Brazil and to the Netherlands.

It was published in the original Ancient Greek with notes in 1891, as part of Macmillan's Classical series for colleges and schools.

[14] In 2006, Mary Beard wrote that "Agnata Ramsey was one of the most notorious casualties of the university marriage market", as she "did very little classics ever after".

Another famous classicist was A. E. Housman who wrote in 1911 to thank her after a visit,[17]Dear Mrs Butler,I have been solacing my journey home with your son's excellent verses which the Master was good enough to give me.