THE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Wiped the floor with woollen fabric (7) 5 Life’s different in offices! (5)

8 A fetching breed of dog (9)

9 We write about nothing but misery (3) 10 Handle, going hard astern (4) 12 Furrowing the brow when working (8) 14 Greek ferry operator (6)

15 Shed providing shady place on the street (6) 17 Report the rifle is loaded (8) 18 Backing Italian agreement, the French give ground (4)

21 Song heard in floral greeting (3)

22 In no way, one says, could this be to blame (9)

24 It goes straight up in flight (5) 25 Object made badly by potters (7)

DOWN

1 Deserving of wealth? (5)

2 Over the hill? Nonsense! (3) 3 Willowy spruce (4)

4 Minister is to eat about six (6)

5 Is adrift possibly, seeking immediate treatment (5,3)

6 They present the bills (9) 7 Quickness of the hand is said to be unimportant (7)

11 Weakness shown by restrictions easily broken (9)

13 Mine host in the Loire perhaps (8)

14 He has got a job at last (7)

16 Poster erected by the Recruiting Office? (4,2) 19 Note opening contest in the tournament (5) 20 Reflection of one’s own outspoken views (4) 23 Born in unending need (3)