© Copyright 2001 R. G. Harrison Letter 349 The Hague, 22 - 25 December 1883
Dear Theo,
I am writing a line to tell you that on account of the arrangement with Father and Mother to let me use the present laundry room as a studio and storeroom for my things, I went to The Hague to pack up and send off my studies, prints, etc., etc. A thing I must attend to myself.
I also spent the day with Rappard, who was very cordial, and rather reassured me as to some scruples I had regarding the possible duration of the arrangement.
Well, I saw drawings (watercolours) and painted studies of his which I thought very good.
Especially those of the workhouse at Terschelling. What a change you would find in his work.
I have seen the woman again, a thing I had greatly longed for.
I feel that it would indeed be difficult to begin anew. But for all that, I do not want to act as if I had forgotten her entirely.
And I wish that Father and Mother would realize that pity is not limited in the way the world thinks. You were the one to understand me in this matter. She has behaved bravely under the circumstances, a reason for me to forget the difficulties I had with her at times. And just because I can hardly do anything for her now, I must at least try to encourage and fortify her.
I see in her a woman, I see in her a mother, and I think every man who has the least manliness in him must protect such a one if there is an occasion for doing so. I have never been ashamed of it, nor ever shall be.
Well, I am writing in a hurry. A handshake,
Yours, Vincent
My address is: Kosthuis No. 1 Assendelftstrasse 16 But of course I shall not stay here long.