- Episode 6: The Photograph
Episode 6: The Photograph
by Steve Wells
As told to Steve Wells over a glass of pale sherry made from a ferment of the skins of new potatoes blended with fresh carrot and fennel.
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The Story so far.
Lionel, Mrs Higgins, Julia and Dr. Cameron have discovered to their surprise that Mr. Talbot is not an alchemist. Meanwhile, Julia and Dr. Cameron have fallen in love.
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During this time Lionel, Mrs Higgins and Mr. Talbot found them selves brought closer together for their mutual defence. They took their surreptitious meals together meals over which Talbot discussed his photography and how his small cameras had been placed round the garden.
Lionel remembered the nesting boxes.
Talbot expressed concern that his small cameras did not seem to be recording any images. Lionel considered that it would be unusual for a nesting box to record anything except perhaps a nest. Later, he and Mrs Higgins considered the matter at length but could find no solution. How could they create the photographs which Talbot wanted? Lionel even took to reading about photography but to no avail.
Eventually there came a day when Julia and Dr. Cameron came to wonder at the strange behaviour of their friends. Coming into the kitchen they discovered Lionel and Mrs Higgins looking strangely at each other. Julia explained how she and the Doctor had been painting in the park and had seen Talbot inspecting the "nesting boxes". Having heard about photography, Julia had experimented with miniature paintings using a brown watercolour wash.
Mrs. Higgins looked the result of Julia's experiment, picked it up and, without saying anything, left the room taking the picture with her.
"Fine woman, Mrs Higgins", said Lionel.
Mrs. Higgins returned half an hour later with mud on her shoes and without the picture. Lionel and Mrs Higgins took to looking at each other again Even Julia noticed.
"Er, Julia" said Lionel.
"Yes, father?"
"I'd like you to meet someone."
"Who? father."
"Mrs Higgins."
"But father, we've already met."
"Yes, but..."
"Yes?" said Julia, getting concerned."
"Its about me and Mrs Higgins."
"You're not going to get married are you?"
"No!, she's my sister."
"Sister?"
"We were separated at birth. Julia, meet your Aunt. Anyway, what's this about marriage?"
Dr. Cameron coughed for a moment. "Er, Mr Morland, Sir, I was wondering, about me and Julia."
Lionel looked on uncomprehending. Julia's aunt leaned towards him "I think he wants to marry my niece."
"What, Julia?" Lionel looked from one to the other and, after some persuasion to the effect that this was not a joke, gave his approval.
In the great joy which followed, Mr Talbot, himself elated, entered the kitchen. On being told of the impending union he offered his congratulations, but could contain himself no longer.
"Look", he said, "a photograph taken by one of my small cameras."
They all looked at the small sepia image of a flower and recognised Julia's painting. They said nothing, but congratulated Mr Talbot.
A few week. later, Julia and Dr. Cameron married. Julia, having become interested in photography, received from Mr. Talbot, a camera as a wedding present. It was with this camera that Julia Margaret Cameron took her first photographs.
So, you will be asking, what happened to the sepia painting? Well, all photographs fade and, knowing this, Mrs Higgins took an early opportunity to substitute a piece of blank paper. The painting itself was framed and now hangs, several generations later on the wall of a doctor's surgery in a small town in Scotland.
Mr. Talbot went on to make many real photographs, but he was often heard to say that that first faded photograph had been the most beautiful image he had ever created.
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Footnote: some readers may have noticed distant similarities between my fictional Lacock Abbey and Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey". What can I say except that Imitation is the best form of flattery.
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