"I never ever swore at him," Watts says, with rueful amazement. The two exchange rueful smiles, and Fraser tosses it lightly into the sea. He remained "somewhat rueful, though no longer bitter" about it. The loss of the keys makes Kramer first rueful and then philosophically resigned. "High Spirits" concluded with Sims in reflective and rueful mood. Allen's act was typified by a relaxed, rueful and intimate style. Aristide (tenor) is a rueful rake, excruciated by the possible betrayal. Hammer also criticized the poems for being too "cautious and rueful" and without passion.