Then I'll have a salary guaranteed me for life; if I am injured, and become useless in the Army, I still have retired pay enough to take care of a family.
If I am killed my wife could draw nearly pension enough to support her.

All these things belong to the Army officer and his wife.
But the cadet has nothing coming to him if he fails, for any reason, to get through." "Well, cadets don't marry," observed Greg.

"They're forbidden to.

But a cadet can have things understood with his girl.

Then, if he fails to make the Army, or to get something else suitable in life, he can release the girl if she wants to be released." "But if a girl considers herself as good as engaged to a cadet she lets other good chances go by, and the cadet may never be able to make good," objected Dick.
"It's good of you to be so thoughtful for that fellow Cameron," jibed Greg.
"I'm not thoughtful for him, but for Laura," retorted Prescott staunchly.
"Confound it," growled Greg to himself, "Dick is such a stickler for the girl's rights that he is likely to break her heart.