The gentle voice of her hostess made her want to speak louder than usual, and she thought the conversation insipid to a degree.

How could it be anything but insipid with Mrs.Jowett saying only "How nice," or "What a pity" at intervals?
She did not even seem to care to hear Mrs.Duff-Whalley's news of "the County," and "dear Lady Tweedie," merely murmuring, "Oh, really," when told the most interesting and even startling facts.
"Uninterested idiot," thought Mrs.Duff-Whalley to herself as she turned from her hostess to Miss Mary Duncan, who at least had some sense, though both she and her sisters had a lamentable lack of style.
Miss Duncan's kind face beamed pleasantly.

She was quite willing to listen to Mrs.Duff-Whalley as long as that lady pleased.

She thought she needed soothing, so she agreed with everything she said, and made sensible little remarks at intervals.

Mrs.Jowett was pouring out a second cup of tea for Mrs.Duff-Whalley when she said, "And have you heard about dear little Jean Jardine ?" "Has anything happened to her?
I saw her the other day and she was all right." "She's quite well, but haven't you heard?
She has inherited a large fortune." Mrs.Duff-Whalley said nothing for a minute.