docs: def read_file(self, filename):
          """
          Read a text file and provide feedback to the user.
  
          :param filename: The pathname of the file to read (a string).
          :returns: The contents of the file (a string).
          """
          logger.info("Reading file: %s", format_path(filename))
          contents = self.context.read_file(filename)
          num_lines = len(contents.splitlines())
          logger.debug("Read %s from %s.",
                       pluralize(num_lines, 'line'),
                       format_path(filename))
          return contents.rstrip()