CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7549

ACROSS

7. Not a fight with the wife? (6,6). 8. Go back to get the decree annulled (6). 9. At a highly dramatic point, calm, I throw a kiss (6). 10. Hand out hints to get a drink (7). 12. Goes on and on about the heavenly music? (5). 15. My own daughter brought back the material (5). 16. Said to have passed out (7). 18. Is, with the others, out to defy (6). 20, Doesn’t notice the girls (6). 22, My, they’ll be welcome if you haven’t a blessed thing to eat! (4,8).

DOWN

1. Big, but not so big it can’t be measured? (8). 2. Try standing up again to someone you fear (4). 3. The fellows get me to go round with a reminder (7). 4. Feel it’s an attempts to relieve you of some money (5). 5. Be responsible for having the rule changed! (8). 6. A neat twist in the mountaineering story? (4). 11. In it, one man’s opening letters (8). 13. Goes ahead with the addition that’s to include “8 Across” (8). 14. Take up the coat the host is holding out (7). 17. The way a policeman will walk? (5). 19. Say again that each has a lost love (4). 21. Witnessed the said flare-up (4).

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7548 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, First to last. 7, Twit. 8, Come-down. 9, Dread-s. 10, Rapids (anag.) 12, States. 15, Rip-off. 17, L-oathing. 19, Dump. 20, Plain answer.

Down - 1, Pro-tract. 2, Stocks. 3, Former. 4, Laid (rev.) 5, Stewed. 6, F-ewer. 11, Pipe down. 13, T-roop-s (rev.) 14, Skinny. 15, Ra-gin-g. 16, F-emu-r. 18, Trap (rev.)

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 7548 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, Transparent. 7, Gnat. 8, Rosemary. 9, Barley. 10, Loathe. 12, Upkeep. 15, Anthem. 17, Catholic. 19, Reel. 20, Impertinent.

Down - 1, Pastille. 2, Osprey. 3, Damsel. 4, Teem. 5, Starch. 6, Tonga. 11, Attorney. 13, Placid. 14, Paltry. 15, Arctic. 16, Event. 18, Hope.