"Well, then, if they have thoughts they don't care for Elves to notice they probably don't visit us very much. I guess if they wanted they could be particularly credible diplomats?"

"If they don't learn a specific skill about it you just hear everything they think?"

"Yes? That's how it is for Elf children who haven't picked it up yet either. I think it's more of a problem for Elf children because humans mostly don't live among Elves. - you can try not to listen but it's not any easier than not listening to sound."

"No wonder there aren't any humans around."

"I don't think that's the reason, most humans who want to learn it don't have much trouble."

"Oh? How do they do it?"

"You need a way of representing them separately in your head -- thoughts you mean to share and thoughts you don't, that is -- some people imagine some thoughts are outside their head and some are inside their head, some people imagine them in different colors, or tucked away in shadowy corners, some people think in different languages -- and then meditate on that until it's a matter of habit."

"Huh. Maybe if I do that backwards I'll be able to telepath at you."

"Do you have a particular reason to expect that to be true?"

"No, but it would be convenient if it worked, wouldn't it?"

"I guess? I don't mind talking, practicing new languages is one of the most wonderful of all experiences. It's like - holding a newborn baby except without the worrying you'll drop them."

"I could teach you words faster though. Like. That's a pineapple but how am I supposed to tell you what a pine or an apple, both of which are separate things, are, unless I happen to spot one around?"

“Pineapple is a compound word?” He shakes his head distractedly. “Osanwë is useful but you shouldn’t worry if it doesn’t work, I really wouldn’t expect it to be something you are doing.”

"Okay. But I'll think about it and see if I can finesse something."

“- okay. Is there anything else we can get you right now?”

"I think I'm set for the time being. Thanks!"

"It's our pleasure."

He ducks out.

May figures out something resembling a bath since she was on the road in primitive conveyances much of the day and...

...sees if she can hear "public" Elf thoughts from nearby, if she tries it. If they're doing it on purpose...

They seem to mostly use public thoughts to communicate to each other the tune and lyrics of the songs that they sing as they wander around. Lots of people also make it possible to look through their eyes or listen through their ears.

That's weirdly cute, the singing coordination thing. She practices not getting too dizzy listening and looking through other sets of apparatus.

Then she goes to bed.

In the morning a different Elf has brought clothes and a large tray of breakfast foods, weighted towards the foods she ate last time. 

"Thank you!"

"My pleasure! Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Do you know when the linguistics guild meets? I think they're hoping I'll come back."

"I don't know when they meet normally but I'm sure if you'd like to go back, they'll all be there."