the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 He won’t play at any price (7) 5 Worn cuffs (5) 8 It will prevent the sheets getting awry (5,8) 9 It happens to be heading to the exit (5) 10 The ancestry of the railway era? (7) 11 Reveal first woman about to be incorporated (6) 12 Seize a king before all others (6) 15 Conspirator who follows the flight of a plane (7) 17 It’s pleasant being about an hour in recess (5) 19 Goes to the dogs? (5,2,6) 20 How to water some flowers? (5) 21 Operation giving boost to the railway (7)

DOWN

1 There’s plenty found among damp leaves (5) 2 Sweet request for a perfect arrangement (5-3,5) 3 Capricious man about to betray one’s trust (7) 4 Actually make friends again (6) 5 It’s an unusual material (5) 6 The time it takes for ill-feeling to be removed (13) 7 A reptile makes an unusual present (7) 11 Premise for breaking rules (7) 13 Deep hatred privately expressed (7) 14 They may advance or stop if ordered (6) 16 Portion of rarebit; a style of savoury (5) 18 Composition makes easy point (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Adage (7) 5 Energy and ambition (5) 8 On sentry duty (8,5) 9 A wrong judgment (5) 10 8th sign of the zodiac (7) 11 Conclusion (6) 12 Optimistic (6) 15 To set free from blame (7) 17 Densely covered (5) 19 Be restlessly impatient (5,2,3,3) 20 Public display of anger (5) 21 A creche (7)

DOWN

1 Material of artificial gems (5) 2 Very impressively (2,1,5,5) 3 Lasts (7) 4 Dismiss from one’s mind (6) 5 In hiding (5) 6 Too small to be noticed (13) 7 Farthest (7) 11 Saint of Assisi (7) 13 Large earthenware jug (7) 14 Defeated (6) 16 Pass into disuse (5) 18 Pool in some card games (5)

PUZZLE 14636