Gibbie by no means belonged to the higher order, was as yet, indeed, not much better than a very blessed little animal.
To him the city was all a show.

He knew many of the people--some of them who thought no small things of themselves--better than they would have chosen he or any one else should know them.

He knew all the peripatetic vendors, most of the bakers, most of the small grocers and tradespeople.

Animal as he was, he was laying in a great stock for the time when he would be something more, for the time of reflection, whenever that might come.

Chiefly, his experience was a wonderful provision for the future perception of character; for now he knew to a nicety how any one of his large acquaintance would behave to him in circumstances within the scope of that experience.