in their return to the village, what is unusual in the manner that they were walking? what might this signify? from the book the pearl by john steinbeck in chapter 6

Juana is walking beside Kino. She usually walks behind him. They both walk hunched over, defeated. I think this signifies the destruction of their private world. Their social norms mean little with the death of their child. Kino also might feel the cause of much of this and doesn't feel worthy to walk in front anymore.