beard vs insomnia

[beeja]

As he slipped into his calamanco dressing gown, the flowing silver tresses of his beard felt heavier than when he had put himself to bed.

This guy has sleeping problem or insomnia but I don't understand what his silver beard is going to do in this sentence. What exactly the writer would like to say??

Pls help, tks.

[Mister Micawber]

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His beard is evidently growing fast, or got wet, or something. It is heavier now when he is getting up than it was when he went to bed.
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[BobK]

Originally Posted by Mister Micawber

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His beard is evidently growing fast, or got wet, or something. It is heavier now when he is getting up than it was when he went to bed.
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... Or he's slept longer than he thinks. I don't know Rip Van Winkle well enough to be sure, but is it a quote from that (or a similar story)?

b