Fellowship, p. 52 (early in chapter 2)There were rumours of strange things happening in the world outside; and as Gandalf had not at that time appeared or sent any message for several years, Frodo gathered all the news he could. Elves, who seldom walked in the Shire, could now be seen passing westward through the woods in the evening, passing and not returning; but they shook their heads and went away singing sadly to themselves. There were, however, dwarves in unusual numbers.
What was removed was the Elves shaking their heads and walking away singing sadly to themselves. That was kind of context for the meeting with Gildor in the next chapter. Gildor Inglorion and his company of Elves are walking east not west through the Shire, and I do not think that they are 'singing sadly'.
