His first response to it was that of a swimmer who has struck earth under him; he knew in that flash where he was, by what familiar shores; and the whole effect, in spite of him was of the sudden shrinkage of that lustrous sea in which his soul and sense had floated.

It steadied him, but it also for the moment narrowed a little the horizon of adventure.

It was the occasion that Eunice took to define for him his status as an engaged man.
He kept as far as he was able his compact of expecting nothing of her, except of course that he couldn't avoid expecting that their arrangement would lead in the natural course to marriage.

She had met him more than halfway in that, agreeing to an earlier date than he had thought compatible with the ritual of engagements in the Best Society.

She had managed, however, that Peter should present her with her summer freedom: the engagement was not even to be announced until their return to town.
And in the meantime Peter was to find a house.