CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Do very much better when not at home with clearheaded girl (8)

5. The worker holds the cards (4)

9. Incline to be thin (4)

10. Journal with explosive contents (8)

11. Some give no mention of poison (5)

12. Bird having a frolic? (7)

13. Like an abstainer having a drink? (2,4,2,5)

18. Boar’s aim could be to become food for the gods (8) 19. Feverish start to a guessing game (4)

20. To care strangely about him is wild fancy (7)

21. Last bit of fish put on a letterheading (5)

22. Philosophy back in times long ago, years back (4) 23. Allotted when wrote name (8)

DOWN

2. It’s ineffective to employ smaller quantities (7)

3. Study the only combination to offer comfort (7)

4. Kind of type found in seats of government with few people (5,8)

6. It is man who makes a nature-worshipper (7)

7. Doctor on the brink of taking redhead on digger (7) 8. Handcart used to preclude brawl (6)

13. Cunning in any absence of law and order (7)

14. Material from water-birds’ feet? (7)

15. Openly declared wrote article before five, put on ring and was married (6)

16. It’s degrading to have a graduate give a solo (7)

17. Rival bird being unpunctual (7)