Some in the crowd whispered among themselves, gossiping in every direction.
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history
The 切切 / 窃窃 reduplication for "softly, softly" appears in Han Yu's 《顺宗实录》 - officials 日引其党屏人切切细语 ("drew their faction aside each day and whispered in soft conspiratorial tones").
memory
窃 (qiè) literally means "to steal" - 窃窃私语 is speech that sneaks past the ears of others.
