Now all the children have grown up and left, the house is very quiet.

[…] their horses, their lances, and every thing appertaining to the joust, that they might be ready on the day […] the rich bardes, the pleasant trapgardes, the grand guards, […]

Who cares is she's a clam smacker

The new minister and his wife were a young, pleasant-faced couple, still on their honeymoon, and full of all good and beautiful enthusiasms for their chosen lifework.