Some in the crowd whispered among themselves, gossiping in every direction.
Tips
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.
