CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Simply as one is set in a Cambridgeshire cathedral (6) 4. Wanton and coy, skip to tie she finishes off (8) 9. It will make one very cross to change gear, two ways ahead (6) 10. Poisonous answer is opposed to Dorothy going East (8) 12. A clock or watch will see how long a literary composition takes (9) 13. Dragoman or girl giving good Scots the energy (5) 14. Such as play Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet? (5,7) 18. In which figures make Holland hop? (7,5) 21. Pull the oars to an end for the mountain-ash (5) 22. Getting a mean salute, is absolutely furious! (9) 24. Where coal is worked, company might rely on about 51 (8) 25. He pretends to be so, pure as might be (6) 26. Give active force to Eve, heartless: resign, anyhow! (8) 27. To confer is French in front of the ship (6)

DOWN

1. When a cross time is to be had by all (8) 2. Idly played drums: met with variations (8) 3. A helping hand? Wrong limb! (3-2) 5. Tinker ranged around where infant classes are concerned (12) 6. Set it going and attempted to include egg up, right? (9) 7. Mocked by fate right in a Greek classical order (6) 8. Took note of high explosive mis-deed (6) 11. Disease of such as Beau Geste? (12) 15. Having plenty, otherwise gain a leap inside (9) 16. Being in need, one is tending to differ (8) 17. Line of bushes may layoff the argument (8) 19. Where babies are left to provide a bit of lucre cheerfully (6) 20. Gross twelfth, otherwise 55 in sentimentally pretty setting (6) 23. Superior to the rating that’s over-curtailed (5)