by what we think of the person who is doing the deed, too. If we really like a character (or person!) a lot, we tend to downplay their bad acts and use kinder words to describe what they are doing...and vice versa! Emma is such a mixed bag for me...she's a hard character for me to feel simply one way or the other about! I see all kinds of fabulous potential and gifts in her, but all kinds of problems too...and not just silly little foibles, either. That makes me even more uneasy about her. Oodles of talent, energy, intelligence, charm when she wishes...but yikes, she keeps veering into some pretty ugly territory. I think for her to tell an un-truth to Mr. Knightley (whether we call it a 'real lie', a 'white lie', a fib, or 'bending the truth') is for her to be 'caught in the act' of doing something she is not proud of and therefore trying to throw him off. He's hitting too close to home.