But now there was no one to interfere, and he enjoyed himself to that degree that he quite forgot to wonder why he hadn't been called.

He thought of a piece of poetry that Helen had made for him, about the bath; and when he had done playing he lay on his back in water that was very hot indeed, trying to remember the poetry.

The water was very nearly cold by the time he had remembered the poetry.

It was called Dreams of a Giant Life, and this was it.
DREAMS OF A GIANT LIFE What was I once--in ages long ago?
I look back, and I see myself.

We grow So changed through changing years, I hardly see How that which I look back on could be me ?[1] Glorious and splendid, giant-like I stood On a white cliff, topped by a darkling wood.
Below me, placid, bright and sparkling, lay The equal waters of a lovely bay.
White cliffs surrounded it--and calm and fair It lay asleep, in warm and silent air.
I stood alone--naked and strong, upright My limbs gleamed in the clear pure golden light.
I saw below me all the water lie Expecting something, and that thing was I.[2] I leaned, I plunged, the waves splashed over me.
I lay, a giant in a little sea.
White cliffs all round, wood-crowned, and as I lay I saw the glories of the dying day; No wind disturbed my sea; the sunlight was As though it came through windows of gold glass.
The white cliffs rose above me, and around The clear sea lay, pure, perfect and profound; And I was master of the cliffs, the sea, And the gold light that brightened over me.
Far miles away my giant feet showed plain, Rising, like rocks out of the quiet main.
On them a lighthouse could be built, to show Wayfaring ships the way they must not go.
I was the master of that cliff-girt sea.
I splashed my hands, the waves went over me, And in the dimples of my body lay Little rock-pools, where small sea-beasts might play.
I found a boat, its deck was perforate; I launched it, and it dared the storms of fate.
Its woollen sail stood out against the sky, Supported by a mast of ivory.
Another boat rode proudly to my hand, Upon its deck a thousand spears did stand; I launched it, and it sped full fierce and fast Against the boat that had the ivory mast And woollen sail and perforated deck.
The two went down in one stupendous wreck! Beneath the waves I chased with joyous hand Upon the bed of an imagined sand The slippery brown sea mouse, that still escaped, Where the deep cave beneath my knee was shaped.
Caught it at last and caged it into rest Upon the shallows of my submerged breast.
Then, as I lay, wrapped as in some kind arm By the sweet world of waters soft and warm, A great voice cried, from some far unseen shore, And I was not a giant any more.
'Come out, come out,' cried out the voice of power, 'You've been in for a quarter of an hour.
The water's cold--come, Master Pip--your head 'S all wet, and it is time you were in bed.' I rose all dripping from the magic sea And left the ships that had been slaves to me-- The soap-dish, with its perforated deck, The nail-brush, that had rushed to loss and wreck, The flannel sail, the tooth-brush that was mast, The sleek soap-mouse--I left them all at last.
I went out of that magic sea and cried Because the time came when I must be dried And leave the splendour of a giant's joy And go to bed--a little well-washed boy.
FOOTNOTES: [1] Never mind grammar.
[2] This is correct grammar, but never mind.
When he had quite remembered the poetry he had another shower-bath, and then when he had enjoyed the hot rough towels out of the hot cupboard he went back to his room to dress.