124 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
be lost. It impressed me even more than the first time, 
as everything does when it has the charm of familiar- 
ity and association and suggests so much more than 
itself, — something that is personal to you over and 
above its own external features. We have been an- 
chored only an hour but have received the visit of the 
doctor and the washerwoman, always the first comers, 
and also a messenger from his Imperial Highness, 
asking the names of the party. The oldest daughter of 
the Emperor (his only child now, poor man) with her 
husband, the Conte d’Eu, have the regency in the 
absence of their father. 
Rio de Janeiro, January 25 
YESTERDAY, the day after our arrival, the Chamber- 
lain of the Princess came to say she should be in town 
with the Conte d’Eu in the afternoon and wished we 
could call if we were in town. We went, of course, 
and had a very pleasant visit. They were quite alone, 
having sent word that we should come before the hour 
of their reception. You know we knew them when we 
were here before. She has acquired so much gentle- 
ness and ease of manner, and she combines the sweet- 
ness of her mother’s expression now with the decision 
and intelligence of her father. The Conte d’Eu, since 
he finished up the war so honorably for the Brazilian 
people, is their idol. He is what he always was, gay, 
easy, cordial, and with the self-possession and un- 
consciousness of perfect good breeding. They bade 
us good-bye at the hour of their public reception and 
asked us not to fail to come and see them at Petropolis. 
