Although the sitting room was often deemed the informal and more family oriented area of the house, there were still rules of etiquette one should abide by. For example, during conversation it was considered courteous to talk to a person frequently but not for lengthy periods of time because there is nothing more tiring than listening to a long narrative.
Incessant talkers were thought of as very unpleasant to be around. Therefore, men kept small talk to the minimum by conversating about insignificant things while still keeping them interesting. Women were more adept at "gossiping" about current events.
During this day and age one was judged by the company they kept. Someone that was thought of as "good company" would be of good birth,rank, or fashion and possess most of the virtues their host valued.