THE TAKE-A-BREAK CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1. It's said to be part of the register (4) 3. Took the trouble to get the other bed out (8) 9. Flag like a state worker (7) 10. Girl spending a long time around the north (5) 11. Building chimney-top ruins cotton somehow (12) 13. Hypothesis those people write about gold (6) 15. Carried round a Pacific island (6) 17. U.S. staff greet various women's rights campaigners (12) 20. Girl of American extraction (5) 21. The artist's about to eat fish (7) 22. Peat's sprinkled around small flower (5,3) 23. Marries on a short day (4) DOWN 1. Knock a big town for its greed (8) 2. Former Russian leader changing the linen? (5) 4. Not at home with set production (6) 5. Intimate discussion taking some beating? (5-2-5) 6. Exhausted, having had an accident (3-4) 7. There may be a dirty film of it! (4) 8. Unimaginative with the truth (6-2-4) 12. Pillows for potted lobsters? (8) 14. Learned to rue diet, perhaps (7) 16. Trouble has upset Les (6) 18. Doubled on two occasions (5) 19. Opening tonalities? (4)

QUICK CLUES

Across 1. Arrived (4) 3. Offhand (8) 9. Stringed instrument (7) 10. Book (5) 11. Without interruption (12) 13. Christian festival (6) 15. Systematic plan (6) 17. Blown-up photographs (12) 20. Swelling (5) 21. Confound (7) 22. Writer (8) 23. Burden (4) Down 1. Places of worship (8) 2. Grieve over (5) 4. Street (6) 5. Public statement (12) 6. Entail (7) 7. Theatrical part (4) 8. On purpose (12) 12. Continues steadfastly (8) 14. 45RPM records (7) 16. Representatives (6) 18. Man-made material (5) 19. Competent (4)