It wasna likely I would stand that." "You shall stand it," replied Tommy, and turning to Elspeth, who had risen from her knees, he said: "Pray away, Elspeth." Elspeth refused, feeling that there would be something wrong in praying from triumph, and Tommy, about to be very angry with her, had a glorious inspiration.

"Pray for yourself," he said to Francie, "and do it out loud." The other boys saw that a novelty promised, and now Francie need expect no aid from them.

At first he refused to pray, but he succumbed when Tommy had explained the consequences, and illustrated them.
Tommy dictated: "Oh, God, I am a sinner.

Go on." Francie not only said it, but looked it.
"And I pray to you to repent me, though I ain't worthy," continued Tommy.
"And I pray to you to repent me, though I ain't worthy," growled Francie.

(It was the arrival of ain't in Thrums.) Tommy considered, and then: "I thank Thee, O God," he said, "for telling this girl--this lassie--to pray for me." Two gentle taps helped to knock this out of Francie.
Being an artist, Tommy had kept his best for the end (and made it up first).