Page:Adventures of Roderick Random.pdf/17

 how I could bestow myself to better advantage I resolved to study Crab's temper with all the application, and manage it with all the address I was master of. In this manner I lived, without hearing the least tidings of my uncle, for the space of two years, during which time I kept little or no company; for the nabob, my master, allowed me no wages, and the small perquisites of my station scarce supplied me with the common necessaries of life. My present appearance was the least of my care, which was wholly ingrossed in laying up a stock of instruction, that might secure me against the caprice of fortune for the future. When I deemed myself sufficiently master of my business, I began to cast about for an opportunity of launching in the world; but as this could not be effected without a small sum of money to equip me for the field, I was in the utmost perplexity how to raise it, well knowing that Crab, for his own sake, would never put me in a condition to leave him; but a small accident which happened about this time, determined him in my favour. This was no other than the pregnancy of his maid-servant, who declared her situation to me, assuring me, at the same time, that I was the occasion of it. Although I had no reason to question the truth of this imputation, I was not ignorant of the familiarities which had passed between her master and her; of which Rh