QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Stare in a foolish manner (10) 8 Of a former age (5)

9 Confirm (4,3)

10 Exacting (7)

11 Habitually lazy person (5)

12 To safeguard (6)

14 Destitution (6)

17 Bird of prey’s claw (5)

19 Ornamental shrub clipping (7) 21 Jubilation (7)

22 Large harp-shaped piano (5) 23 Dictatorial (4-6)

DOWN

2 Take clothes off (7)

3 Stringed musical instrument (5) 4 Strong and sturdy (6)

5 Look at closely (7)

6 Mound (5)

7 Naively enthusiastic (6-4)

8 Alert (2,4,4)

13 Resonant (7)

15 Ignorant (7)

16 Check the flow of (6)

18 Unwilling (5)

20 Heathen (5)