THE TAKE-A-BREAK CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Point to a tree from the window (4) 3. The parson’s address (8) 8. Sound as a bell (4) 9. Encouraging applause? (8) 11. Bet the flag will, sometimes (4,1, 7) 13. Strange desire to settle somewhere (6) 14. I am in a rage, it appears (6) 17. Educated postman? (3,2, 7) 20. Hip seams split by stress (8) 21. Still not excited (4) 22. Gives some support for regular girlfriends (8) 23. Stupefy in a most unusual fashion (4) DOWN 1. His paper might be valuable (8) 2. Has no bite? (7) 4. Expire, though once healthy (6) 5. Choose to speak to the voters (10) 6. The very best from France (5) 7. Excavates lodgings (4) 10. This fight will be very close (4-2-4) 12. Yet he may be a queen! (8) 15. A nice tax might produce it, but it wouldn’t be right (7) 16. Fish for position, we hear (6) 18. It brought to notice the gravity of the world situation (5) 19. They may be sweet to eat, or not! (4)

QUICK CLUES

Across 1. Applaud (4) 3. Trustworthy (8) 8. Observe (4) 9. Mark in degrees

(8) 11. White-hot (12) 13. Reputation (6) 14. Lethargy (6) 17. Loving (12) 20. Expulsion (8) 21. Lake (4) 22. Guardianship (8) 23. Active (4) Down 1. Persuade (8) 2. Commodity (7) 4. Merited (6) 5. Token (10) 6. Muscular strength (5) 7. Level (4) 10. Accompanying (10) 12. Verdure (8) 15. Tableland (7) 16. Powerful (6) 18. Mock-assault (5) 19. Exploit (4)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

QUICK Across 1 Application 9 Abandon 10 Niece 11 Ennui 12 Elegant 13 Enrage 15 Scheme 18 Sultana 20 Lilac 22 Rapid 23 Asiatic 24 Secret agent Down 2 Plain 3 Lodging 4 Cancel 5 Tense 6 Overawe 7 Tape measure 8 Weathercock 14 Relapse 16 Calling 17 Vacant 19 Adder 21 Latin CRYPTIC Across 1 Greasepaint 9 Tirades 10 Still 11 Nylon 12 Russian 13 Answer 15 Brogue 18 Elector 20 Least 22 Sepia 23 Aspirin 24 Bespattered Down 2 Rural 3 Andante 4 Ensure 5 Asses 6 Nailing 7 Stand at ease 8 Clandestine 14 Steeple 16 Relapse 17 Truant 19 Tramp 21 Agree