Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The…

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Postmaster, a native of Calcutta, took up his duties in the remote village of Ulapur. He felt very lonely and homesick. At times he wrote verses. Ratan was his only companion. She was an orphan girl. She did odd jobs for him. He talked to Ratan about his mother, brother and sister. That gave him much comfort. Ratan got very much attached to him.

One day the Postmaster fell ill. Ratan nursed him like his mother. Afterwards the Postmaster applied for a transfer. It was rejected. So he resigned his job. Ratan expected him to take her with him. The Postmaster simply laughed at her idea. The laughter haunted her throughout the night.

The Postmaster promised to ask his successor to take care of her. It offended her more. Ratan burst out weeping and said there was no need for that. Before his departure he gave her some money. She refused to accept it. While crossing the river in a boat he felt an impulse to go back and bring the girl. It was too late. Meetings and partings are numberless in human life. He consoled himself with this philosophy. Ratan had no such philosophy to console her. She was wandering about the post office with tears in her eyes, fondly hoping that her Postmaster would return.

Q. “At times he wrote verses.” The phrase “at times” means ______.