I thought that so nice

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, c. 2 May 1883

I am working on several things just now which I must carry through; but really I am very hard up. You write about Rappard - I am so sorry that he did not come when he wrote he would. If I asked him to advance me something, I am sure he would not refuse. For he himself proposed it this winter, but then he fell ill . . . . I remember his father wrote: "My son is ill, but I know about it; if you are perhaps in difficulties, I will advance you the money."

I thought that so nice of Rappard's father that it would have been indelicate of me to have accepted it at that moment. So I wrote him, "Thank you, let us wait for the recovery of your son."

Letter 282
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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