# Louise Armstrong — The Circular Staircase character guide > Louise Armstrong in The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Louise, Miss Louise, Louise That, Mis ’ Louise **First appearance:** 0000-i-i-take-a-country-house ## Snapshot The Armstrong daughter whose engagement to Doctor Walker conceals a stubborn love for Halsey, and whose haunted face suggests a reprieve already spent. ## Who they are Louise moves through the household as a woman already promised to Doctor Walker yet visibly undone by the arrangement, refusing to see Halsey while her family pressures her toward another match. When Gertrude breaks the news of Paul Armstrong's death, Louise receives it with a stillness that looks uncomfortably like relief, hinting at what her stepfather truly was. Her silence about the stormy interview with Arnold the night he died makes her both a victim and a keeper of the mystery's central secret. ## Relationships ### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes) _romantic_ Halsey and Louise share a romantic attraction, with Halsey acting as her protector and suitor amid the unfolding danger. ### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes) _friendship_ Gertrude and Louise are close friends, with Gertrude acting as a confidante and supporter of Louise's romance with Halsey. ### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes) _romantic_ Halsey and Louise share a romantic attraction, with Halsey acting as her protector and suitor amid the unfolding danger. ### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes) _romantic_ Halsey and Louise share a romantic attraction, with Halsey acting as her protector and suitor amid the unfolding danger. ### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes) _friendship_ Gertrude and Louise are close friends, with Gertrude acting as a confidante and supporter of Louise's romance with Halsey. ### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes) _friendship_ Gertrude and Louise are close friends, with Gertrude acting as a confidante and supporter of Louise's romance with Halsey. ## In the story ### [VI: In the East Corridor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/vi-in-the-east-corridor) Mentioned as the stepdaughter of Paul Armstrong, currently in California with the family. ### [IX: Just Like a Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/ix-just-like-a-girl) Revealed as Halsey's love interest, with hopes of marriage, despite her family's objections. ### [XII: One Mystery for Another](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xii-one-mystery-for-another) Discovered ill and feverish in the lodge, hiding from the family after Arnold's murder. ### [XIII: Louise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xiii-louise) Ill and staying at Sunnyside; reveals to Halsey that she cannot marry him and plans to marry another man. ### [An Eggnog and a Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xiv-an-eggnog-and-a-telegram) Recovering from illness; unaware of the deaths of her stepfather and stepbrother; receives a cryptic telegram about Nina Carrington. ### [XV: Liddy Gives the Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xv-liddy-gives-the-alarm) Louise reacts with relief to her stepfather's death and is later found missing after a scream is heard. ### [XVI: In the Early Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-early-morning) Found unconscious at the foot of the circular staircase after hearing rapping and descending to let in who she thought was Arnold; recounts her experience. ### [XVII: A Hint of Scandal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xvii-a-hint-of-scandal) Rachel tells her about Arnold's death; she is shocked but offers no new information. ### [XVIII: A Hole in the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xviii-a-hole-in-the-wall) Louise recovers enough to sit on the veranda, but appears brooding and distant, causing Halsey concern. ### [XIX: Concerning Thomas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xix-concerning-thomas) Leaves Sunnyside after her father's funeral, warns Rachel to leave the house if pressured, and is met coldly by her mother. ### [XXV: A Visit from Louise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxv-a-visit-from-louise) Louise arrives bareheaded and breathless, demanding Halsey's whereabouts and expressing fear for his safety. ### [XXVI: Halsey's Disappearance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxvi-halsey-s-disappearance) Ill and refusing to see Rachel; she tells Doctor Stewart that Halsey is alive and urges continued search. ### [XXVII: Who Is Nina Carrington?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxvii-who-is-nina-carrington) Out of danger but very ill; guarded by a nurse; Rachel resolves to see her. ### [XXIX: A Scrap of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxix-a-scrap-of-paper) Mentioned as recovering and wishing to come to Sunnyside; her name is used by Doctor Walker as a pretext to pressure the Innes family. ### [The Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-odds-and-ends) Forced into the conspiracy by her mother, sent an anonymous telegram to Jack Bailey, and is now happy with Halsey. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/louise_armstrong - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters