This stirred against them many of the clergy who, accustomed to having women sit silent during services, were in no mood to treat such a revolt leniently.
As Mrs. Weston observed, " all young people would have their little whims." There was one person among his new acquaintance in Surry, not so leniently disposed.
There is also a common perception that people found guilty of corporate crimes are treated much more leniently by the courts than, for example, your common everyday thief or murderer even.