“The place your letter was dated from (Hampton Court) recalls a thousand agreeable things to my remembrance, which I flatter myself I do not quite forget. I wish that I could persuade myself that you regret them, or that you could think the tea-table more welcome in the morning if attended, as formerly by the ‘Schatz’ (a pet name for herself). I really believe frizelation (flirtation) would be a surer means of restoring my spirits than the exercise and hartshorn I now make use of. I do not suppose that name still subsists; but pray let me know if the thing itself does, or if they meet in the same cheerful manner to sup as formerly. Are ballads and epigrams the consequence of these meetings? Is good sense in the morning and wit in the evening the subject, or, rather, the foundation, of the conversation? That is an unnecessary question; I can answer it myself, since I know you are of the party, but in short, do you not want poor Tom, and Bellenden, as much as I want ‘Swiss’ in the first place, and them?” But all that was now changed, and the state of affairs, as depicted by Lord Hervey, prevailed. Mrs. Howard also writes herself on the subject to Lady Hervey as far back as September, 1728 (the year of the Prince’s coming to England). “Hampton is very different from the place you knew; and to say we wished _Tom Lepel_, _Schatz_ and _Bella-dine_ at the tea-table is too interested to be doubted. _Frizelation_, _flirtation_ and _dangleation_ are now no more, and nothing less than a Lepel can restore them to life; but to tell you my opinion freely, the people you now converse with” (books) “are much more alive than any of your old acquaintances.” [Illustration: MARY LEPEL, Lady Hervey, In middle life.] These letters from dainty hands long since of the earth, seem to bring vividly before one’s eyes the trio of fair women, “The Swiss,” “Bella-dine”; and the scarcely less beautiful Mollie Lepel, “The Schatz,” their tea-table, their “frizelation” and “dangleation,” and other pet names for love-making, and it seems hard to believe it was nearly two hundred years ago! Mrs. Howard appears to have separated from her husband in 1718, and devoted herself entirely to the service of the Queen--and the King. Some may be curious to know what was her recompense for this position of degradation. It was not very great.