The document discusses how the saying "Kindness is contagious" is exemplified in the novel. It notes that while only Richard initially signed a sympathy card for Mrs. Hansen, his sharing of Mr. Kilmer's sad letter with the Schermers inspired them to bake cookies and knit a scarf to help others. Similarly, Richard's kindness motivated Hannah to also decline a role and instead follow Richard in doing good deeds. The conclusion is that kindness can spread if people choose to emulate the good acts of others.