In any case, within a year Crabbe's scanty means were exhausted, and he was once more in Aldeburgh, and assistant to an apothecary of the name of Maskill.
This gentleman seems to have found Aldeburgh hopeless, for in a few months he left the town, and Crabbe set up for himself as his successor.
But he was still poorly qualified for his profession, his skill in surgery being notably deficient.

He attracted only the poorest class of patients--the fees ware small and uncertain and his prospects of an early marriage, or even of earning his living as a single man, seemed as far off as ever.

Moreover, he was again cut off from congenial companionship, with only such relief as was afforded by the occasional presence in the town of various Militia regiments, the officers of which gave him some of their patronage and society.
He had still happily the assurance of the faithful devotion of Miss Elmy.

Her father had been a tanner in the Suffolk town of Beccles, where her mother still resided, and where Miss Elmy paid her occasional visits.

The long journey from Aldeburgh to Beccles was often taken by Crabbe, and the changing features of the scenery traversed were reproduced, his son tells us, many years afterwards in the beautiful tale of _The Lover's Journey_.