CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

▶ Across

1. Get rid of skin, to Bunyan's despond (6)

4. The sage Sarah, by way of second half (6)

9. Get back and give upholstered suite a new look (7)

10. Arctic, something to get up to when North replaces religion (5)

11. Something felt when father is at home… (4)

12. …may be protracted when he follows a chorus-leader (4)

13. In hands of carrier, having other deliveries initially (3)

15. Being active, enemy agent captures head of ring (4)

16. Leader of turncoats would regret what is factual (4)

19. It is a small amount to Tom initially (3)

21. Who's metallic opponent tailed off – between the hills? (4)

22. Put up somewhere where masses of money may be got back (4)

24. Public and very curtailed in first part of Bible (5)

25. One singing thus ran in musical work being returned (7)

26. Takes oath, uses oaths? (6)

27. A fine figure of a man, perhaps, from the foundry? (6)

▶ Down

1. In which ‘the funnies’ are barely seen? (5,8)

2. Child's a quid short after gold's been given for flowers (7)

3. Yielded a short vegetable mixture (4)

5. Before noon, as true as maybe, they're not paid to perform (8)

6. A weed Vermeer would begin to engrave on glass (5)

7. Flat on tummy after mishap? No wonder, being so ill-starred (8-5)

8. A witty rejoinder will enable one to find out secret of code (5)

14. Quietly read about rot returned by one after prey (8)

17. To do dental work is something else: cut the middle away! (7)

18. An expletive, as felt after bombshell has landed? (5)

20. With regard to that : withal, it's immediately after (5)

23. Pimple may be regarded as the very best that can turn up (4)