The Child of the Cavern · Chapter
The Legend of Old Silfax explained
Six months after the interrupted wedding, Harry and Nell are finally married in St.
What happens
Six months after the interrupted wedding, Harry and Nell are finally married in St. Giles's chapel. The celebration is attended by James Starr, Simon Ford, and Jack Ryan, who entertains as a piper. Simon Ford jokes about celebrating a golden wedding with Madge. The Harfang, Silfax's owl, continues to haunt the cave, avoiding human contact and showing particular hostility toward Harry. Nell occasionally sees the bird over Loch Malcolm, and Jack Ryan turns the story of Silfax and his bird into local legend.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Harry and Nell's marriage culminates after trials and interruptions, symbolizing enduring love.
Mystery and the Supernatural
The Harfang's continued haunting and the legend of old Silfax add a supernatural aura to the chapter.
Characters to notice
- Harry Ford
Marries Nell after a six-month delay; the Harfang still bears a grudge against him.
- Nell
Marries Harry; occasionally sees the Harfang hovering over Loch Malcolm.
- James Starr
Joyously presides over the wedding entertainment.
- Simon Ford
Celebrates the wedding and jokes about a golden wedding with Madge.
- Jack Ryan
Plays the piper at the wedding and turns the story of Silfax and the Harfang into local legend.
Key passages
“Six months after these events, the marriage, so strangely interrupted, was finally celebrated in St. Giles’s chapel, and the young couple, who still wore mourning garments, returned to the cottage.”
Half a year after the earlier disruptions, Harry and Nell were married at St. Giles's chapel, still dressed in mourning, and then went back to the cottage.
Describes the delayed wedding and the couple's somber attire.
“The Harfang continued to haunt the gloomy recesses of the cave. After the old man’s death, Nell had attempted to keep the owl, but in a very few days he flew away.”
Silfax's owl kept to the dark parts of the cave; Nell tried to keep it after Silfax died, but it soon escaped.
Shows the Harfang's persistent wildness and rejection of human company.