Mr.Crips rarely wasted time making up his mind.
Three minutes later he was sauntering jauntily up the garden path on the heels of a laughing Red Indian set.
It was a fancy dress ball.

All the guests were masked or otherwise disguised.

Nickie had never encountered a softer thing.

He determined to make a night of it at the expense of the host of "White-cliff." To avoid unpleasantness at the door, Nickie boldly climbed up the trellis of a vine, and entered the noisy crowded ballroom through an open window, rolling head over heels among the guests.
His appearance provoked a shout of laughter.

This was the proper way for a tramp to enter such a house.