This resistance, on the writer's part, could well account for his mildly enigmatic, unfinal and anti-climactic denouements, often narrativised as happy endings of sorts, without actually being felt to be so by the characters, not even ironically.

By this hand of flesh, Would it might never write good court-hand more, If I discover . What do you think of me, That I am a chouse?

a show of fumes and fancies

[…] [he] spent a lot of time wanly imagining how warm and secure marriage must make men feel […]