THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Split stick (6)

4 Spiteful woman urges one to discard sin (3-5)

9 Ploughed a mowed field (6)

10 Bird ablaze with love (8)

12 Work involved in making soup (4)

13 and

14 Across She helps mistress dress to brighten dismal day (5,4)

17 Metal fasteners held together by a thread (4,3,5)

20 The aim of equal education? (7,5)

23 A number set about forming an alliance (4)

24 Investment for ploughing back? (5)

25 A case for a sempstress (4)

28 Intimation that union is in trouble and about to be terminated (8)

29 Hilda is upset about a bloomer (6)

30 Man of arms (8)

31 Virtuous but possibly cheats (6)

DOWN

1 It’s not simple to make up (8)

2 It’s clear the girl has a cute wiggle (8)

3 A big fiddle (4)

5 Obviously it’s not plain (5,7)

6 Moist yet may be on fire (4)

7 Old German destroyer still active today? (6)

8 They’re known for insurance in the main (6)

11 Gave spot cash? (4,2,3,3)

15 Cut the number in custody (5)

16 Animals there’s a market for (5)

18 Mythical king who never quite got what he wanted (8)

19 Figure how much property I’m coming into (8)

21 Revealing report about Rhode Island (6)

22 Northerner has an extra fish (6)

26 Side of fresh meat (4)

27 Has old-fashioned way of expressing it (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 A humorous play (6)

4 Dismiss as unimportant (5,3)

9 By far (6)

10 Principal (8)

12 Source (4)

13 Value (5)

14 Render unconscious (4)

17 Out of the blue (12)

20 Bram Stoker’s vampire (5,7)

23 Boxing match (4)

24 An annoying eccentric (5)

25 Placid (4)

28 Assess too highly (8)

29 To exile (6)

30 Officious person (8)

31 Central part (6)

DOWN

1 Unambiguous (5-3)

2 Wrong designation (8)

3 Herb used in condiments (4)

5 Deeply distressing (5-7)

6 Reverse the effect of (4)

7 Elaborately embellished (6)

8 A serious crime (6)

11 Intense (12)

15 A light parody (5)

16 Cheerless (5)

18 Length of time (8)

19 Mausoleum at Agra (3,5)

21 Incorporate (6)

22 Unlawful constraint (6)

26 Seize suddenly (4)

27 Ignoble (4)