Chapters 18 & 19

When Cedric first sees his son wounded, his natural paternal love is revived, but not wishing to reveal this to the spectators at Ashby, he keeps quiet. Later he learns that Ivanhoe is being taken care of by Rebecca and is relieved. Discovering that his swineherd Gurth has been helping Ivanhoe, Cedric has him bound with rope as a punishment.

Cedric and Athelstane take their group to Prince John's palace where they have been invited to a banquet. On the way to Prince John's, the group encounters the dog, Fangs, howling. Cedric throws his javelin at it, wounding the dog. Saxons are a superstitious lot, and Cedric believed this howling was a sure sign of an impending danger. Gurth is upset to see the dog wounded and manages to escape his bonds.

At Prince John's, Rowena refuses to attend the banquet, which annoys Cedric. He and Athelstane discuss matters of land. Then Cedric broaches the subject of Athelstane's marriage to Rowena.

These are emotional chapters in which Cedric is shown to be very frustrated. He is concerned that his son has been wounded, but is too proud to reveal his feelings to the disinherited young man. He is relieved, however, to learn that Ivanhoe is being cared for. He is also angry that his own servant, Gurth, has been helping Ivanhoe and has him punished. On the way to Price John's, he displays his frustration when he hurls his javelin at a howling dog. His frustration is intensified when Rowena, a strong willed young woman, refuses to attend the banquet.

Cedric's greatest desire is still to place a Saxon on the English throne, but he begins to question his choice of Athelstane. He realizes that Athelstane, accurately nicknamed "the Unready", is lazy, indecisive, and only interested in an easy life. When Cedric suggests that Athelstane marry Rowena, the apathetic man makes no response, which further frustrates Cedric.

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