Who cares is she's a clam smacker

[…] 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, […]

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.

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