““Marion stared into his face. “Thank you.” She blinked back sudden tears. “Mr. Bradley, you’re swell. You’ve helped my family so much, and I never appreciated it before.” “Thank you.” Mr. Bradley returned her look, intensely. “I care for all of you. You’re some of the best people I’ve ever known.” Marion smiled and mumbled, “Mr. Sour-face.” “What was that?” “Nothing!” She grinned wider. He smiled back. It was a nice smile.””
![“[Jane] Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories -- entering into their feelings, validating their experiences -- is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/william-deresiewicz-15471_jane-austen_jane-austen-was-not-a-novelist-for-nothi_62623.jpg)
