How we cite our quotes: (Part.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
When he had been there a year, Mrs. Prodd remembered and baked him a cake. Impulsively she put four candles on it. [...]
He bent his head and blew. They laughed together and rose and came to him, and Prodd thumped his shoulder and Mrs. Prodd kissed his cheek.[...]
He cried. [...]
In its own time, the weeping stopped. Sniffling, he looked at them each in turn. Something new was in his face; it was as if the bronze mask over which his facial skin was stretched had disappeared. "I'm sorry," Prodd said. "Reckon we did something wrong."
"It wasn't wrong," said his wife. "You'll see." (1.10.3-9)
Aww, shucks. This passage shows that compassion can be so overwhelming for a recipient who isn't used to it that the recipient can cry. The Prodds' compassion also pushes Lone to evolve.
Quote #2
She said aloud, in admiration, "Ho-ho . . ." There was no anger left in her. Four days ago the twins couldn't even reach a six-foot sill. They couldn't even get away from a spanking. And now look. (1.17.21)
He-he! Ho-ho! Admiration for the twins' self-teaching inspires Janie to forge the beginnings of empathy for them.
Quote #3
She had the status of provider and she had failed them [...]
Unbidden, an image appeared to him—Mrs. Prodd, a steaming platter of baked ham flanked by the orange gaze of perfect eggs, saying, "Now you set right down and have some breakfast." An emotion he was unequipped to define reached up from his solar plexus and tugged at his throat. [...]
He put one hand on each side of the door and sent his flat harsh voice hurtlint out: "Wait!" (1.25.38-41)
Okay, this is weird, but imagine compassion as a virus. The Prodds infected Lone by showing him compassion by serving him a meal. He then passes on the contagion to Janie and the twins by offering them some of his meal. It's good to be sick this way!