What does direct irony mean?

Excerpt from the rainbow, chapter x (excerpt) d. h. lawrence then there was an outcry. mrs. brangwen would not have it; no, she would not. all her innate dignity and standoffishness rose up. then there was the vicar lecturing the school. "it was a sad thing that the boys of cossethay could not behave more like gentlemen to the girls of cossethay. indeed, what kind of boy was it that should set upon a girl, and kick her, and beat her, and tear her pinafore? that boy deserved severe castigation, and the name of coward, for no boy who was not a coward—etc., etc." from the textual evidence provided in this paragraph, what conclusions can the reader draw regarding the vicar? a) he favors boys over girls. b) he has no strong feelings. c) he supports mrs. brangwen's perspective entirely. d) he tends to be indulgent towards children's misbehavior.