{ THE CROSSWORDS }

Across

1 A column I will condense into a short paragraph (6) 4 Sending out East on a job (8)

9 Seaman in a hold (6)

10 A bit vulgar perhaps? (8)

12 She uses oils in her makeup (4)

13 Vessels Drake refused to abandon (5)

14 Dull uniform (4)

17 Schemes put forward for places (12)

20 A restraining habit (12)

23 States hesitation for the employer (4)

24 Quick turn round in vehicles (5)

25 Ground plan (4)

28 Company worker needs strict control (4,4)

29 Pick out the unmarried (6)

30 Training cut without hesitation (8)

31 Ted has arranged departures (6)

Down

1 Girl and writer run off to marry (8)

2 It’s commonly held to please a sucker (8)

3 A long time and a bad one (4)

5 Triumph by right though it may be indecisive (5,7) 6 Boot bag (4)

7 A drop of ice (6)

8 This appeared at the end of the Eighties (6) 11 Their owners should be able to present a reasonable case (7,5)

15 The way to get out and about outside (5)

16 Go quietly as a rattlesnake (5)

18 It gives us illumination - like a star? (8) 19 Experiences initial difficulty in speechmaking (8) 21 Decoration to annoy (6)

22 He holds listeners in a kind of transport (6)

26 In which I combine style and elegance (4) 27 Enjoy corresponding (4)

Across

1 Subtract (6)

4 Decisive gunfight (5-3) 9 Useless (2,4)

10 Explicit approval (8) 12 Encounter (4) 13 Devoutness (5)

14 Row of people (4) 17 Matter for discussion (7,5) 20 Laudable (12)

23 Elliptical (4)

24 Something highly valued (5)

25 Frustrate (4)

28 Ill-judged (8)

29 Reviewer (6)

30 Rashness (8)

31 Drawing implement (6)

Down

1 Nobel’s explosive (8) 2 With grim persistence (8) 3 Exult gloatingly (4) 5 Intimate conversation (5-2-5)

6 On a single occasion (4) 7 Derivation (6)

8 Fiddle ineffectually (6) 11 Place with very clear view (8,4)

15 Journal (5)

16 Derive pleasure from (5) 18 An ocean (8)

19 Imaginary (8)

21 Book’s shape and size (6) 22 A horse-drawn cab (6) 26 Wild animal’s den (4) 27 Loyal (4)