Meaning of text 2

[maral55]

In this part:

"As we sit down, Iris Murdoch spirals gracefully in to the room, and I suddenly notice there's an abandoned glass of red wine tucked away under each armchair, as if perhaps in case of emergency."

It means that Iris came in to thre room with a spiral path?
There was a glass of red wine hidden underneath each armchair? and why for emergency under a chair? I mean you do not normally put a glass of wine under the chair for use?

 

[billmcd]

It is difficult to interpret as it is taken out of context. But the picture I get is that Iris gracefully enters the room and even spins once or twice, 360 degrees (spirals). Reference to the "emergency" red wine might be mentioned facetiously/jokingly that the situaton requires the wine is ready when needed. As I said, this is my picture. Others might "see" it differently.

 

[maral55]

It is taken from here

New Headway Advanced - Student's Book

Page 19.

 

[billmcd]

Thanks. I read a portion of the article by Ms. Coles and the image I had in mind from your excerpt and my original response have changed somewhat. First, based on the picture acompanying the article, I can't imagine Iris "spiriling" as I had described. Sometimes writers get carried away with their own jargon and frankly I don't know what Coles meant by using that term. Second, based on a description and cluttered condition of the room, I suspect that the glasses of wine were probably left under the chairs inadvertently and forgotten. Maybe you have to get in touch with Ms. Coles to get an interpretation of her article.