And the ice is always splendid on it . I 'd give a lot if we could only go there . '' Ned was silent . A sudden idea had come to him . He wondered if it were feasible . `` Anyhow , I 'll try it , '' he said to himself . `` I 'll interview Old Dutcher tomorrow . '' The skating that night was not particularly successful . The small pond at Windsor was crowded , the Windsor boys being out in force and , although no positive disturbance arose , they contrived to make matters unpleasant for the Carletonites , who tramped moodily homeward in no very good humour , most of them declaring that , skating or no skating , they would not go to Windsor again . The next day Ned Allen went down to see Mr. Dutcher , or Old Dutcher , as he was universally called in Carleton . Ned did not exactly look forward to the interview with pleasure . Old Dutcher was a crank -- there was no getting around that fact . He had `` good days '' occasionally when , for him , he was fairly affable , but they were few and far between , and Ned had no reason to hope that this would be one . Old Dutcher was unmarried , and his widowed sister kept house for him . This poor lady had a decidedly lonely life of it , for Old Dutcher studiously discouraged visitors . His passion for solitude was surpassed only by his eagerness to make and save money . Although he was well-to-do , he would wrangle over a cent , and was the terror of all who had ever had dealings with him . Fortunately for Ned and his project , this did turn out to be one of Old Dutcher 's good days . He had just concluded an advantageous bargain with a Windsor cattle-dealer , and hence he received Ned with what , for Old Dutcher , might be called absolute cordiality . Besides , although Old Dutcher disliked all boys on principle , he disliked Ned less than the rest because the boy had always treated him respectfully and had never played any tricks on him on Hallowe'en or April Fool 's Day .
`` I 've come down to see you on a little matter XXXXX business , Mr. Dutcher , '' said Ned , boldly and promptly .
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