Paul Earns Money for the Family and Gives It to Them Secretly
In the beginning of the story, we hear how Paul's father and mother try to earn more money to soothe their monetary discontent, but to no avail. As far as they concerned, Paul only needs to go to a good school and do well; he is more or less counted out of considerations of money. However, Paul turns away from his parents to his richer Uncle Oscar and through gambling earns the money that his parents could never get, though he is yet a child.
Paul's Mother is Still Dissatisfied Even After Receiving Paul's Money
After his mother has received the payment from Paul's gambling winnings for her birthday, Paul looks to her, expecting his mother to finally be happy and satisfied. However, he reads clearly in her face that she is still not satisfied, an observation which is further confirmed by the frightening increase in the house's whispering for more money. Along with Paul, we learn that there is no end to Paul's mother's desire for more money, and that Paul's success and luck will only further inflame this desire rather than satisfy it.
Gambling Family
"My family has always been a gambling family, and you won't know till you grow up how much damage it has done."
Paul's mother warns Paul about becoming obsessed with gambling, not knowing how deeply involved he is in race-betting with Uncle Oscar, who is likely one of those in Paul's mother's family whose gambling has caused some damage. The irony is that, in a sense, Paul's mother has been gambling too, without knowing that she is, and that the resultant damage takes Paul's life before he can grow up.
One Gain, One Loss
"My God, Hester, you're eighty-odd thousand to the good and a poor devil of a son to the bad."
Despite the tragedy of Paul's death, Uncle Oscar speaks to Paul's mother weighing the immense gains from Paul's last, fatal racing prediction with the loss of Paul's life, as though they could be entered in the same balance book: one gain, one loss. Moreover, Paul's mother hears Oscar's voice in a way that may remind us of how Paul and his sisters hear the whispering of the house.
