{ THE CROSSWORDS }

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Decline scented make-up (7)

5 Run away to join up perhaps (5)

8 Grenadine can be so sweetly attractive (9)

9 Service charge (3)

10 Boss is upset and shows distress (4)

12 Jumper having a pocket in front (8)

14 Rods, poles or perches maybe (6)

15 Sergeant comes in before the repeat performance (6)

17 Hold back an expression of disapproval in play (4-1-3)

18 Land in the river (4)

21 Eat out in the afternoon (3)

22 Form empty when filled up (3,6)

24 Fear father will come round again? (5)

25 Heart so affected, sounds can be heard within it (7)

DOWN

1 I’d set out food courses (5)

2 Not happy with some people’s advice (3)

3 Cheese that’s made the wrong way (4)

4 Clannish? (6)

5 Fighting and winning (8)

6 A collection of service people, perhaps (9)

7 Regards unrefined mineral as a blot on the landscape (7)

11 Exploded with fury when there’s commission to pay (9)

13 Unnatural red stain possibly (8)

14 Held place in the rush (7)

16 A wool-gatherer perhaps (6)

19 It may be held up or down (5)

20 Grumpy speculator? (4)

23 An expression of disgust (3)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Matter-of-fact (7)

5 Place visited by devotees (5)

8 Large Southern Ocean bird (9)

9 The Lion (3)

10 To cure (4)

12 Absolute ruler (8)

14 Response (6)

15 To goad (6)

17 Askew (8)

18 Profound (4)

21 Period of history (3)

22 Shapeless (9)

24 To handle (5)

25 Sailor (7)

DOWN

1 Steal game (5) 2 Sphere (3)

3 Prefix for against (4) 4 Flowering bulbous plant (6) 5 Wrong designation (8) 6 English Romantic poet (9) 7 Champion of a cause (7) 11 Connect in one’s mind (9) 13 Pertinent (8)

14 Very old (7)

16 Change for the better (6) 19 Baffling question (5) 20 Stimulus (4) 23 Acknowledge (3)