"They told me to study composition, for one thing. They told me I would compose successful songs, with the aid of--of Schubert." She was a little embarrassed at the end.
She colored. "I'm afraid I didn't really believe the Schubert part. However, I'm studying composition on the _chance_ of their being right."
"You say they advise you on money matters. How do they do that?"
"They advise my uncle through me to sell stock in a certain company and buy in another. They told me to withdraw my money from my California bank and put it into this Universal Traction Company."
"I'm sorry. I wish you wouldn't take their advice. I wish you would put your money back where it came from at once."
"Because it scares me to think of your going into anything on my mother's advice."
"But it wasn't your mother's advice. It was the advice of a great financier."
He did not laugh at this; on the contrary, his face darkened. "I've heard about that. Did he advise your uncle to go into this same transportation company?"
"You mean everybody that went to my mother for advice?"
"Do many go to her for help of this kind?"
"No, not many; she gives sittings only to my aunt and her friends now. There were several big business men of the city who went regularly. Why, Mr. Pettus, the president of the Traction Company, relies upon her."
The absurdity of these great capitalists going to his mother's threadbare little apartment for counsel in ways to win millions made Victor smile. He said, with a mock sigh, "I wish these Voices would tell me where to find a job that would pay fifteen dollars a week."
"They will--if you give yourself up to them. You must have faith."
"Oh, but the whole thing is dotty. Why should a poor farmer like my grandfather by just merely dying become a great financier?" Again his brow darkened and his voice deepened with contempt. "It's all poppycock! If he knows so much about the future why didn't he warn my mother against that reporter that came in the other day to do her up? Why didn't he permit me to stay on at Winona and get my degree?"
The girl was troubled by his questions and evaded them. "It must have been hard to leave in the midst of your final term."
"It was punishing. It was like being yanked out of the box in the middle of an inning, with the game all coming your way."