Too much attention can easily be devoted to a small matter of this sort.
Miss Tenney, by a little manipulation, could have placed this staring at
visitors where it belonged—in a subordinate relation to the remainder of
her work. Her own absorption prevented her from properly instructing her
pupils when guests were absent. A small neglect of this sort may nearly
undo a very fine piece of work; surely this will be the case if the
children discover that they have free rein under certain circumstances.