2. It would appear that this was Van Gogh’s
intention, rather than a
fact at this time. In
letter 428, written at the beginning of February, we read: ‘
Before the accident happened, my arrangement with
Pa was that I would live here free of charge for a while, so as to get breathing space to settle some bills at the beginning of the year. And the money that you sent at New Year and about the middle of January was ready for that. Because I gave that to Pa when the accident happened, this time it’s those paint bills that are waiting their turn’
(ll. 43-53).