What are the characters doing at the beginning of Section 8, and why is that important?

They all decide to take a walk after Bernard has announced that they need not worry and that everything has returned to normal. However, it is hard for the reader to comprehend exactly what he means by this. As they walk, it becomes clear that they have reunited as a cohesive group. Bernard and Neville walk down the street joined at the arm, and Louis walks between Jinny and Susan, recalling the tension caused in the novel's opening section by the kiss. Louis and Rhoda even manage to rectify their differences.