CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. They dry the lots we make up (6)

4. The first twelve Christians (8)

9. Being compassionate, may be concerned with welfare (6)

10. Gnats – ant as well – come from such foul water (8)

12. Parts one’s arranged to put in a different key (9)

13. The proprietor is new, or might be (5)

14. Disastrous as a catch one makes with sport (12)

18. Arrangement of windows is neat – ten, for a change (12)

21. Data processing first made to modify it (5)

22. It’s about telling tales that make it dance a lot (9)

24. A riot bat created in the slaughterhouse (8)

25. Wit and liveliness is pert sort of it (6)

26. Straying from bar, aren’t to be reassembled (8)

27. Pattern of small pieces of biblical law (6)

DOWN

1. Mark it right riding harness for bookies’ telegraph (4-4)

2. Guarantee to warn a try at it (8)

3. Rows of school punishment (5)

5. Sound of tiny feet of pert pet: trait that needs adjusting (6-6)

6. Miss the Italian version (9)

7. Came to hear about non-u neutral (5)

8. Humorous writing might cause one tears (6)

11. Indifferent story-telling by somebody inferior (4,8)

15. One on the watch for a weekly (9)

16. Plant needing air, was it to flourish (8)

17. It can lay around, subject to analysis (8)

19. A nap Ma might take in a hat (6)

20. A line of shops to put on show (6)

23. Nothing more than the record needed for dance entertainment (5)

CHRISTMAS EVE SOLUTION

Across: 1. Court jester 7. Barrack 9. Adze 11. Camel 12. Shares

14. Snow ploughs 18. Supine 20. Hinge 22. Epic 23. Dissent

24. Furthermost

Down: 2. Oarsmen 3. Joke 4. Elder 5. Aback 6. Messy 8. Allowing

10. Thoughts 13. Fly 15. Hinders 16. Aster 17. Heath 19. Poilu 21. Idle