GENERAL CROSSWORD

Across

1. To amuse (6)

4. Makes runs (6)

9. Like animal hair (5)

10. Raise to the peerage (7) 11. Tuscan mountain range (7) 13. Island (4)

15. Focus mind steadily on (11) 18. Leading operatic soprano (4)

20. One who requites (7)

22. Strip of bread, toast, with child's egg (7)

23. Peas, beans, lentils (5)

24. Decayed (6)

25. Green (as lawn) (6)

Down

1. An imperfection, blemish (6) 2. Dizziness (7)

3. Fish such as skate (3) 5. Hall-porter (9)

6. One up in arms (5)

7. Appear (4)

8. One in French foreign force (11) 12. Peach-like fruit (9) 14. She-sheep (3)

15. Fish (3)

16. Types of switches; bar-buttons (7) 17. Wanting overmuch for self (6) 19. Coastal bay (5)

21. Previous Russian ruler (4) 23. Even state (3)

Friday's solution

Across 1. Scrawl 5. Arcane 8. Off 9. Impend 10. Finger 11. Mass 13. Examiner 14. Stand 15. Fiery 19. Sympathy 21. Name 22. Supper 23. Nectar 25. Dye 26. Cherry 27. Treaty Down 2. Compact 3. Age 4. Lodger 5. Affray 6. Condition 7. Niece 12. Sandpiper 16. Rampart 17. Sturdy 18. Cygnet 20. Youth 24. Cue