to the sound of vacuum cleaners

[Quang Hai]

I am reading Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty. A man was in hotel. He let his room.

"In the corridor the girls in lilac housecoats dodged in and out from room to trolley to the sound of vacuum cleaners. They all seemed to be foreign – from Thailand or Puerto Rico."

I do not understand meaning o underlined words. Those lady maid get in and get out from room to trolley to hear the sound of vacuum cleaners? Please anyone help me out. Many thanks!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I am reading Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty. A man is in a hotel. He leaves his room.

We generally give summaries of stories in the present tense.

"In the corridor the girls in lilac housecoats dodged in and out from room to trolley to the sound of vacuum cleaners. They all seemed to be foreign – from Thailand or Puerto Rico."

I do not understand the meaning of the underlined words. Those maids go in and get out from room to trolley to [STRIKE]hear[/STRIKE] the sound of vacuum cleaners? Can anyone help me out? Many thanks!

The housekeepers are going from the rooms to their supply carts (trolleys).

They're doing it to the sound of vacuum cleaners.

It's like:

- dancing to the music
- replying to a question