what does uncle Oscar say at the end of the story, and is he speaking for the author, why or why not?

"My God, Hester, you're eighty-thousand to the good, and a poor devil of a son to the bad. But, poor devil, poor devil, he's best gone out of a life where he rides his rocking-horse to find a winner."

From the content of the story, we can infer that Lawrence blamed the mother for never being satisfied.... for never having enough. Besides which, she had no problem voicing her concerns, frustrations, or anger from her children. Her anger at her husband and their circumstances should never have become a worry for the children in their home. Paul's mother's constant desire for more money cost her the life of her son. He died trying to please her......