On the way, Judy and Flo began comparing their dreams of the night before.
“I know it sounds ridiculous,” Judy said, “but I can’t help feeling that my dream was a warning of some kind and that we ought to heed it. I’m not just sure how.”
“What about you, Pauline? Did you dream about hair, too? That may be a clue to what’s happening to us, if you did,” Flo said eagerly.
The dark-haired girl shook her head. “My dreams are never very clear. I can’t remember them well enough to tell them afterwards. I only know I cried out in my sleep, and Mary came up to see what was the matter. She said I was calling for my mother. I never do that. I hardly remember her. Mary’s kept house for us ever since I was about little Judy’s age. But Mother did have golden hair. I take after Father. I wish—”
“Don’t say it,” Judy stopped her. “You’re going to wish you had golden hair.”
“Could we have been hypnotized?” Flo began.
“I don’t know. Ask your father about hypnotism, Pauline,” Judy urged. “He’ll know. He may use it on his patients. Dr. Zoller, a sort of uncle of mine, is a hypnotist, and Dad approves of it when it’s not misused. Of course, if hypnotism was part of a confidence game Clarissa was playing—”
“It was! I’m sure of it,” Flo interrupted. “She said we read her mind, and she talked us into buying that shampoo, didn’t she?”
“I’m not sure. I thought it was your idea,” Judy began.
“Well, I’m sure. She talked us into lending her the money, too. Then she left the theater when we were all so interested in the play we didn’t notice. It was all a trick,” declared Flo. “Can’t you see it? Clarissa did it all.”