this in recompense : a few early laughs scattered around a plot as thin 
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (DT this)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN recompense)))) (: :) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ few) (JJ early) (NNS laughs)) (VP (VBN scattered) (PP (IN around) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN plot)) (PP (IN as) (ADJP (JJ thin)))))))))
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (DT )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NN )))) (: ) (NP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (JJ ) (NNS )) (VP (VBN ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (ADJP (JJ )))))))))