Crabbe became Mr.Page's pupil in 1771, and remained with him until 1775.
We have the authority of Crabbe's son and biographer for saying that he never really cared for the profession he had adopted.

What proficiency he finally attained in it, before he forsook it for ever, is not quite clear.

But it is certain that his residence among the more civilised and educated inhabitants of Woodbridge was of the greatest service to him.
He profited notably by joining a little club of young men who met on certain evenings at an inn for discussion and mutual improvement.

To this little society Crabbe was to owe one chief happiness of his life.
One of its members, Mr.W.S.Levett, a surgeon (one wonders if a relative of Samuel Johnson's protege), was at this time courting a Miss Brereton, of Framlingham, ten miles away.

Mr.Levett died young in 1774, and did not live to marry, but during his brief friendship with Crabbe was the means of introducing him to the lady who, after many years of patient waiting, became his wife.