"Admiral," Ted Wilson said, "I know it is against the unwritten rules to discuss the matter of increase in rank, but I wonder if we mightn't break them for a minute or two."
"We might if there were proper justification. Why?"
"A commodore's salary is just a bit meager for marriage," said Wilson unhappily.
Stone's face clouded a bit and he nodded seriously. "I know," he said. "But there's a reason, Ted. We do prefer to keep our commodores single so long as they're in active flight service. So long as you are well-fed, well-clothed, and well-housed yourself, the monetary payment is sufficient to take care of your personal needs. I know it is not enough to provide for a wife on top of that. Of course, some men do. And others manage to marry well-to-do women."
"Mine is not well-to-do, but I don't want to make her do with less."
"Naturally."
"Then how about this rank business? I'm about due."
"You are."
"Then when can I expect it?" asked Wilson.
Admiral Stone looked at him determinedly. "You can hasten that process yourself, Wilson. By acting a bit more for the benefit of the Service than you have in the past."