As for William Dobbin, whom he had tipped repeatedly in his youth, and who had been the old gentleman's butt on a thousand occasions, old Sedley gave his hand to him in a very hesitating humble manner now, and called him "Sir." 
As for William Dobbin, who had been the butt of the old man's humour on a thousand occasions, Sedley gave his hand to him in a very hesitating manner, and called him "Sir." 